Alabama Administrative Code
Title 480 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Chapter 480-4-3 - BENEFITS
Section 480-4-3-.08 - Claims And Registration For Benefits For Total And Part-Total Unemployment
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 480-4-3-.08
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1) Claims and Registration.
(a) Any individual
desiring to file an application for unemployment compensation benefits may do
so by visiting www.labor.alabama.gov, calling 866-234-5382
or visiting a local Alabama Career Center Office. The claim for benefits shall
be effective as of the first day of the calendar week in which the claimant
filed a claim.
(b) In order to
establish eligibility for benefits or for waiting period credit for weeks of
unemployment, the claimant must file weekly certifications for each week they
wish to make a claim for benefits. Certifications may be completed by telephone
at 334-954-4094, 205-458-2282, or 800-752-7389. Certifications may also be
completed on-line at www.labor.alabama.gov. Such weekly
certifications for benefits must be completed immediately (but not later than
(6) six calendar days) after the end of the week for which such benefits are
being claimed. However, when a weekly claim has been submitted but requires the
agency to obtain additional information, the claimant will be notified to
contact the agency within 4 calendar days. Failure to contact the agency during
this additional 4 calendar days shall be grounds for a finding that the
claimant has not timely filed a claim for benefits for the week in question,
and a decision denying benefits for the week claimed in question shall be
issued. In order to ensure accurate and timely processing of the claim, the
following procedures must be followed:
1.
Claimants must submit all necessary forms when requested. If additional
material is needed, such as Form W-2 or SF-50, the claimant will be sent a
request in writing and the request will include any applicable deadlines.
Doctor's certificates, when required, may be mailed or faxed to the central
office as outlined on the doctor's certificate form.
2. Employment Service registration must be
accomplished, if applicable. Claimants who are Alabama residents, will be
automatically registered for work with the Alabama Career Center System. This
auto-registration will remain active for 90 days, however, all claimants are
required to maintain an active Career Center application for the duration of
his/her unemployment claim. Claimants must visit one of the Alabama Career
Centers or log-in at www.alabamaworks.gov and update his/her
online resume to keep his/her registration active beyond the initial 90 days.
Claimants who are residing and seeking work in another state must register for
work and maintain an active registration with the Employment Service or
American Job Center office in his or her local area.
3. Nothing in this rule shall be interpreted
to relieve such a claimant from the requirement that an active search for
suitable work be conducted in accordance with provisions of Ala. Code Sections
25-4-77(a)(5) and
Alabama Department of Labor Administrative Rule
480-4-3-.15.
4. Claimant shall be provided with the
Alabama Unemployment Compensation Benefits Rights and Responsibilities Handbook
by mail or online at www.labor.alabama.gov. The claimant shall
be advised of his/her responsibility to respond to a call-in from the claim's
office.
5. When a new or additional
claim is filed for unemployment compensation, the Unemployment Compensation
Agency notifies the last bona fide employer and requests information regarding
the reason the claimant was terminated. The employer returns (or fails to
return) the form containing the reason for separation as described in Rule
480-4-2-.19(2).
If the information provided by the employer conflicts with that provided by the
claimant, the claimant must be given the opportunity to rebut the employer's
reason.
(i) Once a claim is filed, the last
separating employer is furnished a Notice of Claim and Request for Separation
Information, (Form Ben-241). Base period employers other than the last
separating employer are notified of the claim by a Notice of Payment and Charge
to Your Tax Rating Account (Form Ben-8A). Information furnished by the
respective employers in response to these will be considered timely notice to
the Secretary as required by Section
25-4-78(3)(a),
and acted upon accordingly, including monetary redetermination of the claim,
provided such response is furnished to the Agency within the time specified on
either form. (The required return date and local office address is printed on
each Ben 241. Form Ben 8A must be returned to the Alabama Department of Labor,
Unemployment Compensation Agency, Montgomery, Alabama 36130, within 15 days
following the mailing date shown on the form).
6. Change of claimant's address is the
responsibility of the claimant. The claimant must personally contact UI Inquiry
at 800-361-4524 to update his/her residence or mailing address. The exceptions
to this procedure are:
(i) When a claim for
partial benefits indicates a change of address and is signed by the
claimant.
(ii) When the address is
updated as part of the regular claims filing process for an initial or
additional claim.
(iii) When the
change is necessary due to an obvious error.
7. Claims for lost or stolen debit cards
shall be made in accordance with Alabama Department of Labor Administrative
Rule 480-4-3-.18.
8. Claimant must provide proof of work search
efforts with at least three (3) prospective employers for each week of
unemployment claimed. Full work search requirements are listed in Alabama
Department of Labor Administrative Rule
480-4-3-.15(3)(a).
Authors: John B. Benton, Joseph S. Ammons
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 25-2-7, 25-2-8, 25-4-77, 25-4-111.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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