If you're collecting unemployment benefits in Arkansas, filing your EZARC weekly claim is how you confirm each week that you're still eligible to receive payment. EZARC — Arkansas's Ez-AR-C unemployment system — is the online portal the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services uses to manage claims, and the weekly claim is the recurring step that keeps your benefits active.
Missing a week, answering a certification question incorrectly, or not understanding what the system is asking can delay or interrupt your payments. Here's how the process generally works.
After you file your initial unemployment claim in Arkansas, you don't automatically receive benefits every week. You must return to the EZARC system and file a weekly certification — sometimes called a weekly claim — for each week you want to be paid.
This weekly certification is a series of questions that asks you to confirm your status for that specific week. The questions typically cover:
Your answers to these questions determine whether you receive a payment for that week — and how much.
In Arkansas, the week for unemployment purposes typically runs Sunday through Saturday. The certification window for a given week generally opens on Sunday and you're expected to file within a specific timeframe — usually by the end of the following week. Filing late can result in a missed payment for that week.
To file a weekly claim through EZARC, you'll need:
The EZARC portal allows you to complete this online. Arkansas also offers a telephone option through the Tele-Serve system for claimants who can't access the internet.
Arkansas requires claimants to make a minimum number of work search contacts each week as a condition of receiving benefits. The required number of contacts can change based on state policy and local labor market conditions, so you should confirm the current requirement directly through the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services.
Each job contact you report needs to be a genuine, verifiable job-seeking effort — submitting a resume, completing an application, or attending an interview. The state may conduct audits, and claimants who can't verify their reported contacts can face disqualification or overpayment determinations.
Keeping a log of your job search activity — employer name, contact method, date, and position — is a standard practice that protects you if your records are ever reviewed.
Once you submit your weekly claim, Arkansas processes your responses. If no issues are flagged, payment is typically released within a few days to your debit card or direct deposit account, depending on your payment preference on file.
If something triggers a review or adjudication — for example, reporting wages, a job refusal, or an inconsistency — payment for that week may be delayed while a claims examiner evaluates your situation. You may be contacted for additional information.
If you worked part-time or earned any income during a certification week, you're required to report it. Arkansas, like most states, uses a formula to determine how part-time earnings affect your weekly benefit amount. Generally, some earnings are disregarded and the rest are deducted from your benefit — but the specific formula varies and the EZARC system will walk you through what to report.
Failing to report wages is considered a serious issue. Unreported earnings can result in an overpayment, which means Arkansas can require you to repay benefits you weren't entitled to receive. In cases of intentional misreporting, additional penalties may apply.
No two claimants move through the weekly certification process the same way. Several variables affect what happens after you file each week:
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Reason for separation | Layoff vs. voluntary quit vs. misconduct affects ongoing eligibility |
| Part-time work | Earnings may reduce — but not always eliminate — weekly payment |
| Job search compliance | Insufficient contacts can trigger disqualification for that week |
| Employer protest | If your employer contests your claim, payments may pause during review |
| Appeal status | If your initial claim is under appeal, certifications still build a payment record |
If you forget to certify for a week, Arkansas generally does not allow you to go back and file for that week after the filing window closes. Some states have processes for backdating missed weeks under specific circumstances, but this typically requires contacting the agency directly and demonstrating good cause. The EZARC system itself doesn't allow retroactive weekly claims outside those exceptions.
Your weekly benefit amount in Arkansas is calculated based on your wages during your base period — typically the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed. Arkansas applies a formula to those wages to produce your weekly benefit. The state also sets a maximum weekly benefit cap, which means high earners don't receive unlimited replacement income.
The weekly claim doesn't change your benefit amount — it confirms your eligibility for that amount in a given week.
How long you can collect, what triggers a payment hold, and how a specific week's earnings affect your payment all depend on the details of your individual claim, your wage history, and where your case stands in Arkansas's system. The weekly certification is just the recurring step that connects your ongoing eligibility to your benefit payments — but what it means for your particular situation depends on what's actually in your file. 🗂️