Arkansas Amends Unemployment Benefits Eligibility: Employment Law Manual Updated

Authors: Michael Jacobson and Tracy Morley, XpertHR Legal Editors

Arkansas has amended its unemployment benefits law, lowering the maximum number of weeks during which an individual may collect unemployment benefits in a year from 25 to 20. The weekly benefit rate calculation will also change from looking at the quarter in an individual's base period with the highest wages to looking at all four quarters in the base period. The amendments will take effect later this year, at a date yet to be determined.

In light of this development, the Arkansas Legally Required Benefits and Involuntary Terminations sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated.