Filing an Unemployment Claim - Alabama
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There will be at least two determinations made on your claim, including (1) a monetary determination and (2) a separation
determination.
Monetary Determination – Whether you have earned enough wages to qualify for unemployment benefits. The monetary determination will indicate:
- wages paid to you by your employer(s) within the base period quarters. (The base period is explained further under
the section, “Computing Monetary Eligibility” of this handbook), and - your maximum and weekly benefit amount if you qualify.
Separation Determination – A second determination will be made regarding the reason you were separated from your last employer.
If no disqualification is assessed on your claim after an investigation is completed on your reason for being separated from your last employer, you will receive unemployment benefits for any weekly certifications you have filed, provided there were no questions regarding your eligibility.
If a disqualification is assessed on your claim after an investigation is completed you will receive a written decision notifying you that benefits were either reduced, suspended, or denied for any length of time because of your most recent job separation. See the Alabama Unemployment Handbook for more information.
Visit the Alabama Department of Labor website for information on how to apply for unemploment benefits.
Generally, you will qualify for a set number of full benefit weeks ranging from 14-20 weeks. The maximum amount allowable for the benefit year is based on the unemployment rate. If you return to work or if you have deductible income for any week, you may draw reduced payments and increase the total possible length of time that you can draw. The total amount that you can draw for the year is the maximum benefit amount shown on your monetary determination.
You must continue to file weekly. Also, you must continue to be able and available for full-time work. You must actively seek employment, while keeping a record of your work search activities (a form to help you do so can be found here). You must also register for employment with the Alabama Works. Finally, you must accept suitable work.
You must appeal within 15 days of the date the decision was mailed to you, or, if given to you in person, within 7 days from when you received it. Your appeal must be in writing, and may be submitted by fax or by mail. Also, you must keep filing your weekly claims regularly because you will only be paid for weeks you filed if you win your appeal.
