To apply for unemployment in Arizona, file online at CACTUS (it replaced azui.com on September 7, 2025) or call 1-877-600-2722 (toll-free); 602-364-2722 (Phoenix area); 520-791-2722 (Tucson area); 711 relay for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing in the first week after your last day of work — the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
This guide lists the documents to gather, the steps in order, the identity check, the weekly claim, and the reasons a claim shows “pending” — the things the portal does not explain. Verified against Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) as of October 2026.
Before You Apply For Unemployment In Arizona: At a Glance
| File online | https://uibenefits.az.gov/ |
| By phone | 1-877-600-2722 (toll-free); 602-364-2722 (Phoenix area); 520-791-2722 (Tucson area); 711 relay for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing |
| In person | Arizona does not take new claims in person or by phone. Most claimants file online in CACTUS. ARIZONA@WORK offices offer free computers for filing, and DES also accepts a paper application by mail (form UIB-1272A). |
| When to file | DES says benefits are not retroactive, so file as soon as possible after your last day of work, ideally that same week. The online application is available 24/7. You file your first weekly claim starting the Sunday after you apply. Each weekly claim covers Sunday through Saturday. |
| First payment | If your claim has no open issues, DES says the first payment usually comes about 10 business days after your second… |
How to Apply For Unemployment In Arizona — In This Guide:
When to Apply for Unemployment in Arizona
DES says benefits are not retroactive, so file as soon as possible after your last day of work, ideally that same week. The online application is available 24/7. You file your first weekly claim starting the Sunday after you apply. Each weekly claim covers Sunday through Saturday. Arizona generally requires one unpaid waiting week under A.R.S. 23-771(A)(5).
It is the first week you file a weekly claim and are otherwise eligible, and it is not paid later. Bills to repeal it, SB 1297 and HB 2582 (2026), show no record of being signed; confirm with DES.
What You Need to Apply for Unemployment in Arizona
Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID number (if you have one), mailing address and county of residence, names, addresses and phone numbers of every employer from the last 18 months, your last day worked and the reason you separated, your most recent employer’s correct mailing address and phone number as shown on your paystub, bank routing and account numbers if you want direct deposit
How to Apply for Unemployment in Arizona, Step by Step
- Gather your ID, SSN and 18-month work history
- Go to uibenefits.az.gov and choose Apply for UI
- Follow the link to ID.me and verify your identity, then return to CACTUS
- Finish and submit the application
- Watch for your Way2Go payment card and DES notices by mail
- Starting the Sunday after you apply, file a weekly claim each week with your work search activities
Prefer the phone? Call 1-877-600-2722 (toll-free); 602-364-2722 (Phoenix area); 520-791-2722 (Tucson area); 711 relay for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Arizona does not take new claims in person or by phone. Most claimants file online in CACTUS. ARIZONA@WORK offices offer free computers for filing, and DES also accepts a paper application by mail (form UIB-1272A).
The Identity Check After You Apply for Unemployment in Arizona
Most states verify identity online (often through ID.me) before paying; finish it the same day you file, because a claim with an unfinished identity check sits in pending.
Your First Weekly Claim After You Apply for Unemployment in Arizona
You file a weekly claim in CACTUS for each Sunday-through-Saturday week, between 12:01 a.m. Sunday and 6:00 p.m. Friday (MST) the following week. It asks whether you were able and available to work, whether you had earnings or turned down work, and what work search you did. The state generally requires at least 4 work search contacts on 4 different days each week.
Missing more than two weeks in a row makes the claim inactive.
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What Happens After You Apply for Unemployment in Arizona
DES mails the employer a Notice to Employer (UB-110), and the employer has 10 working days to explain the separation. DES also issues a determination of your weekly amount based on your base-period wages (the first four of the last five completed quarters). If eligibility questions come up, DES sends a written eligibility determination, and either side generally has 15 days to appeal.
Your Way2Go card arrives within 10 days, and DES registers you in Arizona Job Connection within 2 days. If your claim has no open issues, DES says the first payment usually comes about 10 business days after your second weekly claim. When an issue needs review, such as severance or vacation pay, it can usually be processed within 15 business days if you are found eligible.
Payments go to a Way2Go debit card, which arrives within 10 days of filing, or to direct deposit if you request it.
Why an Arizona Claim Shows Pending
- ID.me verification not finished, or “Allow” not clicked
- A quit or discharge that needs adjudication
- Severance, vacation or other separation pay to review
- Wrong employer address or missing work history
- Missed weekly claims or work search entries that don’t meet requirements
You must finish ID.me verification before DES accepts your claim. DES automatically registers you in Arizona Job Connection within 2 days of applying. DES may audit your weekly work search records for up to 2 years from the claim’s effective date, so keep your own log.
Next step: once you have filed, our Arizona benefits guide shows what the weekly check will be, and the eligibility guide explains the separation rules the agency will apply.
Arizona — the bottom line
- To apply for unemployment in Arizona, file the first week after your last day — the claim starts when you file.
- Gather the documents before you apply for unemployment in Arizona: identity, 18 months of employers, and bank details.
- After you apply for unemployment in Arizona, file every weekly claim and finish the identity check the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for unemployment in Arizona?
Online at the state portal (https://uibenefits.az.gov/) or by phone. File in the first week after your last day of work; the claim is dated from the week you file, not the week you were let go.
What do I need to apply for unemployment in Arizona?
Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID number (if you have one), mailing address and county of residence, names, addresses and phone numbers of every employer from the last 18 months, your last day worked and the reason you separated, your most recent employer’s correct mailing address and phone number…
How long does it take to get unemployment in Arizona?
If your claim has no open issues, DES says the first payment usually comes about 10 business days after your second weekly claim. When an issue needs review, such as severance or vacation pay, it can usually be processed within 15 business days if you are found eligible.
Why is my Arizona unemployment claim pending?
ID.me verification not finished, or “Allow” not clicked; A quit or discharge that needs adjudication; Severance, vacation or other separation pay to review; Wrong employer address or missing work history; Missed weekly claims or work search entries that don’t meet requirements
Official Arizona Sources & Resources
- Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES): https://des.az.gov/services/employment/unemployment-individual
- Arizona unemployment statute: A.R.S. 23-601 et seq.
- U.S. Department of Labor — Unemployment Insurance: dol.gov
- CareerOneStop (DOL) — state benefit finder: careeronestop.org
This apply for unemployment in Arizona guide was last verified against official Arizona sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
More Arizona Unemployment Guides
- Arizona Unemployment Benefits: How Much and How Long
- Arizona Unemployment Eligibility: Who Qualifies
- Arizona Unemployment Overpayment: Waivers and Repayment
- Unemployment Guides for All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. My Unemployment Rights is an independent educational resource, not a government agency and not a law firm. Unemployment benefit amounts, deadlines and rules change — every figure here carries the date we verified it. Confirm the current figure and any deadline with your state unemployment agency before you act.