Alaska Unemployment Insurance Benefits Qualification

If you want to file you need qualify for this benefits. You must have worked in in covered employment and earned enough wage credits. Benefit amounts are based on what you earned in the first 4 of the last 5 calendar quarters. You must be available for work, able to work, both mentally and physically and actively seeking work. If you were fired from your last job, you may have a 6-week disqualification period and lose any extended benefits from the federal government. This applies even if you are applying in another state.

If you were a federal employee and were discharged, you can get unemployment compensation for federal civilian employees. You must provide an SF-8 form from the government employer. You can get unemployment if you are an ex-military person. If you served in active duty in the last 18 months, you may be eligible. You will require providing discharge papers (form DD-214). Disaster unemployment assistance is available for up to 26 weeks if you are unemployed because of a disaster.


A benefit year is typically the 52 weeks following the effective date of your claim. Your weekly benefit amount is determined by the wages you were paid in the first 4 of the 5 completed calendar quarters before filing your claim. The maximum amount in Alaska is $248 weekly, and the minimum is $44. You may be eligible for a dependent allowance for up to 3 children. Your dependents must be unmarried and under the age of 18, unless they have a long-term disability. The children must live with you for more than 50 percent of the time and you must provide more than 50 percent of the children's support.

You must be able to work. You are able to work when you are physically and mentally able to work full-time. If you become unable to work due to a medical condition while receiving benefits, you may be eligible to receive a waiver of availability for up to 6 weeks. You must have transportation, a telephone or other way to be contacted, and child care, if necessary. If you are in jail, you are not available for work and your benefits will be suspended.