How Do I Check the Status of My Unemployment Claim with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development?

How Do I Check the Status of My Unemployment Claim with The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development?

Are you living in Alaska and out of work? You can apply for unemployment benefits to help you cope with the hardship of losing your job. Maybe your employer reduced the workforce size due to slow business. It's understandable to apply for unemployment benefits to help curb the effects of being unemployed.

How to Check the Status of Your Unemployment Benefits?

First, go to the department of labor and workforce development and check the status of your filing. You need your social security number and address information.

Alternatively, you can contact Alaska department of labor and workforce development through their toll-free phone number. The agents will let you know whether your application was approved, the status of the processing of the benefits. Besides, the agents inform you on when to expect the benefit payment into your account.

You can only receive the benefits if you qualify and learn how much you can expect in benefit payments after the waiting period is over.

How Do I Qualify for My Unemployment Benefits?

As an Alaskan worker, you must meet the eligibility requirements to receive the unemployment benefits. Your joblessness must be done to reasons not your fault like being laid off because the employer is downsizing the workforce.

Consequently, you have to be ready to start working or be searching for work even as you receive the unemployment benefits.

If you are out of work because you are caring for the sick, disabled loved one, injury or a pandemic, you still qualify to receive your unemployment benefits.

During pandemic, Alaska waives the requirement that workers should be actively searching for work. However, you still have to meet the earnings requirement. Your base period earnings must meet the minimum allowed for eligibility to receive benefits.

Alaska evaluates income in a base period which is four quarters of your last complete quarters before filing for unemployment. The minimum earnings to be eligible still stands at $2,500 in gross income for at least two quarters in the base period.

In case you are not eligible, you can request the department to look at your alternate base period earnings. Here, the department examines your earnings over the last four most completed quarters recently.

Can I Reapply for Unemployment Benefits If I Failed My First Application?

Yes. Alaska makes it easy for workers to apply for unemployment. First, you must create an account on the department of labor and workforce development website.

Be sure to have the following details with you when creating the account as they are necessary.

1. Social security number or the alien registration number
2. Mailing address, the name and phone number of your last employer
3. Your first and the last dates of your employment for that last employer
4. The earnings for the last week of employment including severance, bonus or pay for vacation.
5. Your bank account information. Useful for direct deposit of your benefits

After you have created the account, log on every week and request your unemployment benefits. Your benefits exclude the initial one week as it's treated as the waiting period.

You can receive weekly benefits from $56 to $370 depending on your earnings in the base period. Moreover, you are eligible for a $24 allowance for every dependent under your care if you have any. However, you get an allowance for a maximum of three dependents. Eligible dependents include adopted kids, unmarried kids, court appointed wards and step kids.