Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), Unemployment Insurance

Arizona · Unemployment

des.az.gov/services/employment/unemployment-individual

State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona

The Arizona Department of Economic Security administers unemployment insurance through the CACTUS self-service portal. A week of benefits is payable only if the claimant was able to work and available for work that week, so nothing accrues for weeks after a death; anyone who receives benefits they are not entitled to is liable to repay DES. The death is reported to the UI Call Center.

Steps to takeKey facts

Steps to take when someone dies

1
Report the claimant's death to the DES UI Call Center at 1-877-600-2722 so benefit payments stop.
2
Ask DES how to handle any payment already issued — benefits a person is not entitled to are repayable to the department (A.R.S. § 23-787(A)).
3
Ask DES whether a final payment is owed for weeks the claimant certified for before death, and what documentation is required.

State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona: key facts

What Arizona says4

Reporting a death

The death is reported to the DES UI Call Center so benefit payments stop.1

Claimant portal

DES launched the CACTUS portal at uibenefits.az.gov on September 7, 2025 for new claims, weekly certifications, appeals and document uploads. It replaced AZUI.com.2

Benefits at and after the death

Under A.R.S. § 23-771(A), benefits are payable for a week only if the claimant was able to work and available for work in that week, so no benefits accrue for weeks after the date of death.3

Overpayments

Under A.R.S. § 23-787(A), anyone who receives benefits they are not entitled to is liable to repay the overpaid amount to DES.4

Governing law: A.R.S. §§ 23-771, 23-787

Not in Arizona's published guidance1

  • A standing survivor-claim procedure

Sources4

  1. 1.Contact Unemployment Insurance (Arizona Department of Economic Security)
  2. 2.CACTUS (Arizona Department of Economic Security)
  3. 3.A.R.S. § 23-771
  4. 4.A.R.S. § 23-787

Arizona unemployment benefits

Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), Unemployment Insurance

Verified Aug 2026

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