Alabama Unemployment Insurance

Alabama Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary financial assistance to Alabama workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Each state sets its own guidelines for eligibility for UI benefits, but you usually qualify if you:

1. have lost a job through no fault of your own;
2. are unemployed or partially unemployed for reasons permissible under federal law;
3. are “able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work;” and
4. have earned at least a certain amount of money during a “base period” prior to becoming unemployed. In most states, this is usually the first 4 out of the last 5 completed calendar quarters prior to the time that your claim is filed.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’ and must have:

1. wages in at least two quarters of the base period, and
2. total base-period wages of at least 1.5 times the amount you earned in your highest paid quarter of that base period.

For example, if your highest paid quarter was $4,000, your earnings across the entire base period must be to at least $6,000 ($4,000 x 1.5).

How many weeks of unemployment do I get in Alabama?

Alabama offers up to 14 weeks of benefits for new enrollees, with an additional five-week extension for those enrolled in a state-approved training program. ¹ According to the Alabama Department of Workforce, the number of weeks ranges from 14 to 20 depending on the state unemployment rate.²

How much unemployment will I get in Alabama?

Benefits per week range from a minimum of $45 to a maximum of $275, which is determined by wages paid during the qualifying period.

How do I file for unemployment online in Alabama?

You may file your claim online through Claimant Portal  or alternatively, you can call the Initial Claims Line at (866) 234-5382 if you wish to file by phone.

Alabama Department of Workforce
Claimant Assistance Line
(866) 234-5382