Alaska Unemployment Benefits: Who Qualifies, How Much, and How to Apply
Alaska unemployment: can you get benefits if fired or you quit, weekly benefit amounts, how many weeks, work search rules, how to apply and appeal.
Quick answers for Alaska
- If you were fired
- If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you face a six-week disqualification starting with the first week you are unemployed, plus a three-week reduction in your benefits, and you may also be ineligible for Extended Benefits. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook
- Weekly benefit amount
- Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance FAQ; Department press release No. 08-87 (Dec. 9, 2008)
- How many weeks
- 16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount and distribution of your base period wages. The benefit year is generally 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance Claimant Handbook
- How to apply
- File online through myAlaska (my.alaska.gov), under Unemployment Insurance Benefits, or call a UI Claim Center: Anchorage (907) 269-4700, Fairbanks (907) 451-2871, Juneau (907) 465-5552. Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Unemployment Insurance; Claimant Handbook
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Who qualifies
| If you were fired | If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you face a six-week disqualification starting with the first week you are unemployed, plus a three-week reduction in your benefits, and you may also be ineligible for Extended Benefits. If you go back to work during the disqualification period, contact a claim center, because the disqualification may be lifted. You must report a firing accurately on your claim. |
|---|---|
| If you quit | If you quit without good cause, you face a six-week disqualification starting with the first week you are unemployed, plus a three-week reduction in your benefits, and you may also be ineligible for Extended Benefits. If you go back to work during the disqualification period, contact a claim center, because the disqualification may be lifted. |
| Layoffs and reduced hours | Workers who lose their job through a layoff may file a claim. If you are working part-time or on call with reduced hours, file a claim right away and report your gross earnings each week; benefits are reduced by the partial-earnings rule. Workers on alternating schedules may not be considered unemployed during scheduled time off. |
| Earnings needed to qualify | You need at least $2,500 in total gross wages earned over two calendar quarters of the base period. The regular base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. If you do not qualify, an alternate base period of the last four completed quarters is used. |
| Self-employed, 1099 and gig workers | Self-employment is not considered suitable work for unemployment purposes. If you do self-employment while claiming benefits, you must report the hours you spent on your business and your net income for the week (gross self-employment income minus that week's business expenses). You must report the hours even in weeks you earn nothing. |
How much and how long
| Weekly benefit amount | Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. The $370 maximum applies to new claims effective on or after January 1, 2009. The January 1, 2009 effective date comes from the department's press release at https://labor.alaska.gov/news/2008/news08-87.pdf. The U.S. Department of Labor's July 2026 summary of state laws also lists $56 to $370 (up to $442 with dependents). |
|---|---|
| How many weeks | 16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount and distribution of your base period wages. The benefit year is generally 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim. |
| Waiting week | Yes. The first eligible week of a new claim is an unpaid waiting week. |
| Working part-time on benefits | Report your gross earnings for each week. Your benefit is reduced by 75 cents for each dollar you earn over $50 in a week. If your gross wages are at least 1 1/3 times your weekly benefit amount plus $50, no benefit is paid for that week. |
| Severance and vacation pay | You must report the gross amount of vacation, holiday, sick, pension, retirement, severance, commission, bonus, wages in lieu of notice and back pay, and a deduction may be taken from your weekly benefits. Report any change in a gross pension amount immediately. Social Security benefits are not deducted. |
Applying and keeping benefits
| How to apply | File online through myAlaska (my.alaska.gov), under Unemployment Insurance Benefits, or call a UI Claim Center: Anchorage (907) 269-4700, Fairbanks (907) 451-2871, Juneau (907) 465-5552. A new claim is effective the Sunday of the week you file. After filing, you must keep filing for benefits every week or two to keep the claim active; weeks filed late may be denied. |
|---|---|
| Work search requirements | You must report two work search activities each week if you live in Alaska within 55 road miles of a job center, or live in another state, Canada, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. You must report one work search activity each week if you live in rural Alaska more than 55 road miles from the nearest job center. For each contact, report the date, employer name, contact method, and the employer's phone, address, website or email. A work search log is available for record keeping. |
| Appealing a denial | You may appeal within 30 days of the written determination. Appeal by phone, fax, mail or email to your UI claim center or the Appeals office (appeals@alaska.gov; fax (907) 308-2868; toll-free (800) 232-4762). Keep filing for benefits while your appeal is pending. |
| Logging in and filing weekly claims | Alaska unemployment insurance claims are filed online through myAlaska (you need your myAlaska login and password); online services are available 24/7 and claimants must report weekly work searches to stay eligible. The UI Claim Centers take calls 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday: Anchorage (907) 269-4700, Fairbanks (907) 451-2871, Juneau (907) 465-5552. myAlaska password help: (866) 377-0126. Online filing link on the agency page: https://my.alaska.gov/PrerequisiteProcess?pubid=bif. Relay: 711 in Alaska or (800) 770-8255. |
Where to get help in Alaska
Unemployment Benefits FAQ
Can you get unemployment if you were fired in Alaska?
If you were fired for misconduct connected with your work, you face a six-week disqualification starting with the first week you are unemployed, plus a three-week reduction in your benefits, and you may also be ineligible for Extended Benefits. If you go back to work during the disqualification period, contact a claim center, because the disqualification may be lifted. You must report a firing accurately on your claim.
Can you get unemployment if you quit in Alaska?
If you quit without good cause, you face a six-week disqualification starting with the first week you are unemployed, plus a three-week reduction in your benefits, and you may also be ineligible for Extended Benefits. If you go back to work during the disqualification period, contact a claim center, because the disqualification may be lifted.
Can you get unemployment if your hours were cut in Alaska?
Workers who lose their job through a layoff may file a claim. If you are working part-time or on call with reduced hours, file a claim right away and report your gross earnings each week; benefits are reduced by the partial-earnings rule. Workers on alternating schedules may not be considered unemployed during scheduled time off.
How much do you need to have earned to get unemployment in Alaska?
You need at least $2,500 in total gross wages earned over two calendar quarters of the base period. The regular base period is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you file. If you do not qualify, an alternate base period of the last four completed quarters is used.
How much is unemployment in Alaska?
Your weekly benefit is based on your base period wages. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. A dependent allowance of $24 per week per dependent child may be added for up to 3 dependents. The $370 maximum applies to new claims effective on or after January 1, 2009.
How long can you get unemployment in Alaska?
16 to 26 weeks, depending on the amount and distribution of your base period wages. The benefit year is generally 52 weeks from the effective date of the claim.
Is there a waiting week for unemployment in Alaska?
Yes. The first eligible week of a new claim is an unpaid waiting week.
What are the work search requirements for unemployment in Alaska?
You must report two work search activities each week if you live in Alaska within 55 road miles of a job center, or live in another state, Canada, Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. You must report one work search activity each week if you live in rural Alaska more than 55 road miles from the nearest job center. For each contact, report the date, employer name, contact method, and the employer's phone, address, website or email. A work search log is available for record keeping.
Does severance pay affect unemployment in Alaska?
You must report the gross amount of vacation, holiday, sick, pension, retirement, severance, commission, bonus, wages in lieu of notice and back pay, and a deduction may be taken from your weekly benefits. Report any change in a gross pension amount immediately. Social Security benefits are not deducted.
How do I apply for unemployment in Alaska?
File online through myAlaska (my.alaska.gov), under Unemployment Insurance Benefits, or call a UI Claim Center: Anchorage (907) 269-4700, Fairbanks (907) 451-2871, Juneau (907) 465-5552. A new claim is effective the Sunday of the week you file. After filing, you must keep filing for benefits every week or two to keep the claim active; weeks filed late may be denied.
How do I appeal an unemployment denial in Alaska?
You may appeal within 30 days of the written determination. Appeal by phone, fax, mail or email to your UI claim center or the Appeals office (appeals@alaska.gov; fax (907) 308-2868; toll-free (800) 232-4762). Keep filing for benefits while your appeal is pending.
Can you work part-time and collect unemployment in Alaska?
Report your gross earnings for each week. Your benefit is reduced by 75 cents for each dollar you earn over $50 in a week. If your gross wages are at least 1 1/3 times your weekly benefit amount plus $50, no benefit is paid for that week.
Can self-employed or gig workers get unemployment in Alaska?
Self-employment is not considered suitable work for unemployment purposes. If you do self-employment while claiming benefits, you must report the hours you spent on your business and your net income for the week (gross self-employment income minus that week's business expenses). You must report the hours even in weeks you earn nothing.
Where do I log in to my unemployment claim in Alaska?
Alaska unemployment insurance claims are filed online through myAlaska (you need your myAlaska login and password); online services are available 24/7 and claimants must report weekly work searches to stay eligible. The UI Claim Centers take calls 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday: Anchorage (907) 269-4700, Fairbanks (907) 451-2871, Juneau (907) 465-5552. myAlaska password help: (866) 377-0126.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.