Unemployment benefits in Arkansas
Arkansas's maximum weekly unemployment benefit is $451.
| Minimum weekly benefit | $81 |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $451 |
| Maximum duration | 12 weeks |
How the weekly benefit is calculated
Set by an official benefit table (DWS-ARK-500.1, effective since July 1, 2012) keyed to your average base-period wages, not a simple percentage or divisor.
Arkansas has the shortest standard duration of any state confirmed in this research pass — 12 weeks per claim, reduced from a higher cap by Act 196 of 2023.
Sources
- Arkansas Division of Workforce Services — Unemployment Insurance Information Handbook, January 2026, read 2026-08-23.
- DWS-ARK-500.1 — Benefit and Earnings Table, read 2026-08-23.
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Arkansas unemployment: common questions
How much is unemployment in Arkansas?
Set by an official benefit table (DWS-ARK-500.1, effective since July 1, 2012) keyed to your average base-period wages, not a simple percentage or divisor. The minimum weekly benefit is $81, and the maximum is $451. Arkansas has the shortest standard duration of any state confirmed in this research pass — 12 weeks per claim, reduced from a higher cap by Act 196 of 2023.
How long do unemployment benefits last in Arkansas?
Up to 12 weeks, the standard duration most states pay.
What wages count toward my benefit?
The standard base period: your wages in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before you filed your claim.
What is the maximum weekly unemployment payment in Arkansas?
$451 a week is the most Arkansas pays, before any deductions you elect such as tax withholding or child support. Most claimants receive less, because the weekly amount is calculated from your own base-period wages: Set by an official benefit table (DWS-ARK-500.1, effective since July 1, 2012) keyed to your average base-period wages, not a simple percentage or divisor.
What day does unemployment pay in Arkansas?
This page does not model payment dates. Timing is set by Arkansas's own unemployment agency rather than by the benefit formula, and normally depends on when your weekly or biweekly claim is filed and processed rather than on a fixed calendar day. What this page does model is how much you are owed and for how long, both traced to the sources listed below.