Ark. Code Ann. § 11-10-502 (2026)

1. For initial claims filed on or after the first day of the calendar quarter following July 22, 2015, an insured worker's weekly benefit amount shall be an amount equal to one-twenty-sixth (1/26) of his or her average wages for insured work paid during the four (4) quarters of his or her base period.
2. 1. A weekly benefit amount shall not be less than twelve percent (12%) of the state average weekly wage for insured employment for the preceding calendar year for benefit years beginning after June 30, 1987.
   2. However, effective July 1, 2012, the weekly minimum benefit amount established in subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall not be greater than eighty-one dollars ($81.00).
3. 1. A weekly benefit amount shall not be greater than sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the state average weekly wage for insured employment for the previous calendar year for benefit years beginning after June 30, 1985.
   2. However, effective July 1, 2012, the weekly maximum benefit amount established in subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall not be greater than four hundred fifty-one dollars ($451).
4. Weekly benefit amounts that are not in even multiples of one dollar ($1.00) shall be rounded to the next lower full dollar amount.
5. On June 1 of each year, the Director of the Division of Workforce Services shall determine the average weekly wage for insured employment for the preceding calendar year in the following manner:
   1. The sum of the total monthly employment reported for the calendar year shall be divided by twelve (12) to determine the average monthly employment;
   2. The sum of the total wages reported for the previous calendar year shall be divided by the average monthly employment to determine the average annual wage; and
   3. The average annual wage shall be divided by fifty-two (52) to determine the average weekly wage for insured employment.

History. Acts 1941, No. 391, § 3; 1943, No. 138, § 26; 1943, No. 263, § 1; 1947, No. 398, § 2; 1949, No. 155, § 3; 1955, No. 395, § 5; 1959, No. 13, § 1; 1963, No. 93, § 4; 1971, No. 35, § 7; 1977, No. 366, § 5; 1981, No. 43, § 2; 1983, No. 482, § 7; 1985, No. 8, § 3; 1985, No. 9, § 3; A.S.A. 1947, § 81-1104; Acts 1987, No. 753, § 6; 1991, No. 48, § 2; 2001, No. 1367, § 3; 2001, No. 1757, § 8; 2003, No. 353, § 2; 2011, No. 861, § 1; 2015, No. 412, § 2; 2019, No. 910, § 233.

A.C.R.C. Notes. Acts 2001, No. 1757, § 9, provided in part:

“Nothing in the act, which originated as House Bill 2646 of 2001, nor in Act 1552 of 1999 shall impliedly repeal any part of Act 796 of 1993. Act 796 of 1993 is expressly reaffirmed by this act, which originated as House Bill 2646 of 2001.”

Acts 2001, No. 1757, § 12, provided:

“All laws and parts of laws expressly in conflict with this act are repealed. No part of Act 796 of 1993 shall be impliedly repealed by this act or Act 1552 of 1999.”

Acts 2015, No. 412, § 1, provided:

“Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds that:

“(1) The State of Arkansas needs to take steps to increase and ensure the financial stability of the Unemployment Compensation Fund;

“(2) Arkansas's unemployment costs to employers as the result of benefit amounts are higher than the surrounding states; and

“(3) Adjusting the benefit amounts to be paid to claimants will increase the state's ability to maintain the Unemployment Compensation Fund and to compete in attracting businesses.”

Amendments. The 2011 amendment added (b)(2); and rewrote (c)(2).

The 2015 amendment, in (a), added “For initial claims filed on or after the first day of the calendar quarter following the effective date of this act” in the beginning, substituted “average wages” for “total wages” and “four (4) quarters of his or her base period” for “one (1) quarter of his or her base period in which the wages were highest”.

The 2019 amendment substituted “Director of the Division of Workforce Services” for “Director of the Department of Workforce Services” in the introductory language of (e).