Unemployment Insurance (Alaska)

If you lost work through no fault of your own, Alaska Unemployment Insurance pays a temporary weekly benefit while you look for a new job. It comes from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The fastest way to file is online through myAlaska at my.alaska.gov, where the online services are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your weekly amount falls in a set range. The minimum weekly benefit is $56 and the maximum is $370. If you have dependent children, you also get a dependent allowance of $24 per week per child, for up to three children, which adds up to $72 a week. Your exact amount depends on your past wages.

The amount comes from your work history. The state looks at wages paid to you in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters, which is called your base period. From that, it sets both your weekly amount and how long your benefits last, which is 16 to 26 weeks depending on your wages.

Plan for the first week to be unpaid. The first eligible week of a new claim is a 'waiting week,' and you do not receive a payment for it. You still have to meet all the rules for that week, so file and certify on time from the very start.

To stay eligible, you must register for work and report your weekly work search. Keep records of the jobs you apply for, since those can be checked. You certify each week to keep your payments coming, and honest reporting protects you from having to pay money back later.

You can also reach a UI Claim Center by phone, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday: Anchorage 907-269-4700, Fairbanks 907-451-2871, and Juneau 907-465-5552. For login trouble, the myAlaska help desk is 866-377-0126. With benefits capped at $370 a week, stack support: check SNAP, Medicaid, and 2-1-1 for local rent help between jobs.