- What Is Unemployment Insurance?
- What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
- How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits
- When to Apply for Unemployment
- How to Apply for Alaska Unemployment Insurance
- How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated
- I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?
- What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?
- How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
- Need More Help?
- View or Download Our Free Guide
What Is Unemployment Insurance?
Unemployment Insurance is a benefit program designed to replace part of the income of recently unemployed or underemployed workers. Unemployment Insurance is available to workers who are out of work through no fault of their own.
Learn more about Unemployment on Alaska’s Unemployment Program Overview page here.
What Are Unemployment Insurance Benefits?
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are weekly payments given to eligible workers who apply to and are accepted into the program. These payments are provided via direct deposits to the beneficiary’s bank account or UI debit card.
You can learn more about how Unemployment Insurance direct deposit payments work here and frequently asked questions about the UI debit card here.
How to Qualify for Unemployment Benefits
To qualify for Unemployment Insurance in Alaska, you must:
- Have lost your job due to no fault of your own.
- Be able to work.
- Be actively seeking work.
- Meet Alaska’s monetary and personal eligibility requirements.
Learn more about Alaska’s monetary requirements and personal eligibility requirements on page 7 of this guide here.
When to Apply for Unemployment
Apply for benefits online here during the week you are seeking payment, when your hours have been reduced or when you are no longer employed. If possible, Do NOT wait until the week is over.
Learn more information on when to apply for Unemployment Insurance here.
How to Apply for Alaska Unemployment Insurance
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Alaska, complete the following three steps:
- Gather the documentation related to your previous employment and information you will need for the application.
Learn what documents and information you need here. - **Choose how you are going to apply, whether online or by phone.
**The Alaska Unemployment Office does not accept claims in person.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance online, click here to access Alaska’s Unemployment claim portal.
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, contact your nearest Alaska Unemployment Office location at the following numbers:- Anchorage: (907) 269-4700
- Outside Anchorage: (877) 272-4635
- Juneau: (907) 465-5552
- Outside Juneau: (888) 810-6789
- Fairbanks: (907) 451-2871
- Outside Fairbanks: (877) 272-4635
- All other areas: (888) 252-2557
- Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
All Alaska DOLWD customer service phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
How Unemployment Insurance Benefit Amounts Are Calculated
The amount of Unemployment Benefits you receive is based on your past reported earnings by employers that you have worked for in Alaska. To determine the amount you will receive each week, the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development takes the highest-earning quarter in the applicant’s base period and divides it by the total amount of wages earned in the base period.
The minimum weekly benefit amount in Alaska is $56. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $370.
Learn more about Alaska’s base period and how benefits are calculated here.
I Just Applied for Unemployment Insurance. Now What?
- **Report Your Waiting Week
**The week after you file your unemployment claim is called the Waiting Week. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week and the Weekly Certification Application here. - **Start Looking for Work
**Keep track of your work search contacts. You are required to make at least two contacts per week to receive payments and waiting week credit. - **Discuss Possible Issues
**If you were discharged or quit your last job, expect a call (or email if that is your preferred contact method) to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance.
You can learn more about what to expect after applying here.
What Happens After You Are Approved for Unemployment Benefits?
You must file a Weekly Certification Application every week you are receiving Unemployment Benefits until you are employed again. This weekly claim is like a follow-up application that certifies your continued eligibility for the program, and proves you are actively applying for new jobs.
File your Weekly Certification Applications here.
It’s important to remember that you will stop receiving Unemployment Benefits and your Unemployment Claim will be canceled if you have not filed Weekly Certifications for two or more consecutive weeks.
How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development by:
- Phone: (800) 232-4762
- Fax: (907) 465-3374
- Email: appeals@alaska.gov
Find out more about the appeal process here.
You may not file an appeal online.
Need More Help?
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development at (866) 377-0126.
All Alaska DOLWD claim phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
Alaska Job Centers are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here. Find the Alaska Job Centers Contact Us page here.
View or Download Our Free Guide
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
- Contact the Alaska Department of Labor Unemployment Agency
- Unemployment Offices in Alaska
- Job Centers in Alaska
- Need More Help?
- View or Download Our Free Guide
Contact the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
If you have general questions about Alaska Unemployment Benefits or an Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) customer service center at the following numbers:
- myAlaska help desk: (866) 377-0126
- Anchorage: (907) 269-4700
- Outside Anchorage: (877) 272-4635
- Juneau: (907) 465-5552
- Outside Juneau: (888) 810-6789
- Fairbanks: (907) 451-2871
- Outside Fairbanks: (877) 272-4635
- All other areas: (888) 252-2557
- TTY: 711
You can also email one of the below UI Claim Centers with your general question:
- Anchorage: auicc@alaska.gov
- Juneau: juicc@alaska.gov
To speak with a representative at the Alaska DOLWD Main Office, call (907) 465-2712.
If you have questions about appeals, contact the Appeal Tribunal Office via the following methods:
- Phone: (800) 232-4762
- Fax: (907) 465-3374
- Email: appeals@alaska.gov
All Alaska DOLWD customer service phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
Unemployment Offices in Alaska
Alaska has 3 Unemployment Offices. Find your nearest local Unemployment Office’s location, hours of operation, and phone number. Or, go to the Alaska DOLWD Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone # |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage UI Claim Center | 3301 Eagle St, #205 Anchorage, AK 99503 P.O. Box 241767 Anchorage, AK 99524 | (907) 269-4700 (907) 375-9520 fax |
| Juneau UI Claim Center | 1111 W 8th St, Juneau, AK 99801 P.O. Box 115509 Juneau, AK 99811-5509 | (907) 465-5552 (907) 465-5573 fax |
| Fairbanks UI Claim Center | 675 7th Ave., Station L Fairbanks, AK 99701 | (907) 451-2871 (907) 451-2870 fax |
Job Centers in Alaska
Alaska has 15 Job Centers that are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here. Find your nearest local office’s location and phone number below. Or, go to the Alaska Job Centers Contact Us page here.
| Location | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage Midtown | 3301 Eagle St., Suite 101, Anchorage, AK 99503 | Phone: (907) 269-4800 Fax: (907) 269-4825 TTY: (907) 269-4745 |
| Anchorage Mountain View | 120 Bragaw, Anchorage, AK 99504 | Not Available |
| Anchorage Muldoon | 1251 Muldoon Road, Suite 103, Anchorage, AK 99504 | Phone: (907) 269-0000 Fax: (907) 269-0004 TTY: (907) 269-8435 |
| Bristol Bay (Dillingham) | 527 Seward St., Room 101 Dillingham, AK 99576-1149 | Phone: (907) 842-5579 Fax: (907) 842-5679 Toll free: (800) 478-5579 |
| Fairbanks | 675 7th Ave., Station D, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4531 | Phone: (907) 451-5967 Fax: (907) 451-2919 TTY: (907) 451-5901 |
| Homer | 3670 Lake St., Suite 300, Homer, AK 99603-7655 | Phone: (907) 226-3040 Fax: (907) 235-6143 |
| Juneau | 10002 Glacier Highway, Suite 100 Juneau, AK 99811-5514 | Phone: (907) 465-4562 Fax: (907) 465-2984 TTY: (907) 465-2952 |
| Ketchikan | 2030 Sea Level Drive, Suite 220, Ketchikan, AK 99901-6073 | Phone: (907) 225-3181 Fax: (907) 247-0557 |
| Kodiak | 211 Mission Road, Suite 103, Kodiak, AK 99615-6315 | Phone: (907) 486-3105 Fax: (907) 486-4716 Toll Free: (800) 478-3105 |
| Mat-Su | 877 Commercial Drive, Wasilla, AK 99654-6937 | Phone: (907) 352-2500 Fax: (907) 352-2522 TTY: (907) 352-2500 |
| Nome | 214 Front St., Suite 320 Nome, AK 99762-0280 | Phone: (907) 443-2626/2460 Fax: (907) 443-2810 Toll Free: (800) 478-2626 |
| Peninsula (Kenai) | 11312 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 2, Kenai AK 99611 | Phone: (907) 335-3000 Fax: (907) 335-3050 TTY: (907) 335-3048 |
| Sitka | 304 Lake St., Room 101, Sitka, AK 99835-7563 | Phone: (907) 747-3423 Fax: (907) 747-7579 |
| Valdez | 213 Meals Ave., Room 22, Valdez, AK 99686-0590 | Phone: (907) 835-4910 Fax: (907) 835-3879 |
| YK Delta (Bethel) | 460 Ridgecrest Drive, Suite 112 Bethel, AK 99559-1607 | Phone: (907) 543-2210 Fax: (907) 543-2099 Toll Free: (800) 478-2210 |
Need More Help?
To find more information on Alaska Unemployment Benefits and Services, visit:
- The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) website here.
- The Alaska DOLWD Frequently Asked Questions page here.
To file an Unemployment Insurance claim online:
- Visit the Alaska Unemployment Insurance claimant portal here.
View or Download Our Free Guide
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
- How to Apply for Alaska Unemployment Insurance
- How to Check Your Application Status
- The Unemployment Benefits Waiting Week
- How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
- Need More Help?
- View or Download Our Free Guide
How to Apply for Alaska Unemployment Insurance
To apply for Unemployment Insurance in Alaska, complete the following three steps:
- Gather the documentation related to your previous employment and information you will need for the application.
Learn what documents and information you need here. - To apply for Unemployment Insurance in person, contact your nearest Alaska Unemployment Office location at the following numbers:
- Anchorage: (907) 269-4700
- Outside Anchorage: (877) 272-4635
- Juneau: (907) 465-5552
- Outside Juneau: (888) 810-6789
- Fairbanks: (907) 451-2871
- Outside Fairbanks: (877) 272-4635
- All other areas: (888) 252-2557
- Submit the Unemployment application, which is also known as filing a claim.
All Alaska DOLWD customer service phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
How to Check Your Application Status
If you have already applied for Unemployment Insurance online, you can check the status of your application by logging into your account through the Alaska Claimant Portal here.
You can also check the status of your application by calling the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s customer service line at (866) 377-0126.
The Unemployment Benefits Waiting Week
You will not begin receiving Unemployment Benefits immediately after submitting the application. By law, you must wait one week before finding out whether you will begin receiving benefits. This is called the Waiting Week.
The Waiting Week is the week after you file your unemployment claim. During the Waiting Week, you must file a Weekly Certification Application through the claimant portal here and the Unemployment Office will make sure you are still unemployed or underemployed, and meet all other eligibility requirements. If approved, you will begin receiving your weekly benefits the following week. You are not paid for the Waiting Week, but you do receive a Waiting Week credit.
Learn more about the Waiting Week and the Weekly Certification Application here.
How to Appeal an Unemployment Insurance Denial
If your Unemployment Insurance application was denied, you have the right to file an appeal. You can submit an appeal to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development by:
- Phone: (800) 232-4762
- Fax: (907) 465-3374
- Email: appeals@alaska.gov
Find out more about the appeal process here.
You may not file an appeal online.
Need More Help?
For help with an Unemployment Insurance application, or for any further questions about your Unemployment Insurance claim, call the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development at (866) 377-0126.
All Alaska DOLWD claim phone lines are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here.
Alaska Job Centers are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM AST, except for the observed holidays noted here. Find the Alaska Job Centers Contact Us page here.
View or Download Our Free Guide
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Unemployment Insurance program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free Unemployment Insurance Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.
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