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. DES publishes no separate survivor procedure — the death is reported to the UI Call Center.
Administering agency
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) — Unemployment Insurance
Authority
A.R.S. §§ 23-771, 23-787
State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona: key facts
- Administering agency
- Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), Unemployment Insurance Administration.
- Claimant portal
- CACTUS at uibenefits.az.gov — the portal DES launched on September 7, 2025 for new claims, weekly certifications, appeals, and document uploads. It replaced AZUI.com.
- UI Call Center
- 1-877-600-2722 statewide; Phoenix (602) 364-2722; Tucson (520) 791-2722.
- Eligibility ends at death
- Benefits are payable for a week only if the claimant was able to work and available for work in that week (A.R.S. § 23-771(A)), so no benefits accrue for weeks after the date of death.
- Payments not owed
- Anyone who receives benefits they are not entitled to is liable to repay the overpaid amount to DES (A.R.S. § 23-787(A)).
Governing law: A.R.S. §§ 23-771, 23-787
Steps to take when someone dies
- Report the claimant's death to the DES UI Call Center at 1-877-600-2722 so benefit payments stop.
- 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)).
- Ask DES whether a final payment is owed for weeks the claimant certified for before death, and what documentation is required. DES does not publish a standing survivor-claim procedure.
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) — Unemployment Insurance
Phone: 1-877-600-2722
Visit the agency website →Frequently asked questions
The Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) administers unemployment insurance through its Unemployment Insurance Administration. Since September 7, 2025 claimants file and certify through the CACTUS portal at uibenefits.az.gov, and the UI Call Center is reachable at 1-877-600-2722.
Report the death to the DES UI Call Center so payments stop. Arizona pays benefits for a week only if the claimant was able to work and available for work that week (A.R.S. § 23-771(A)), so nothing accrues for weeks after the date of death, and any benefits a person receives without entitlement are repayable to DES (A.R.S. § 23-787(A)). DES publishes no standing survivor-claim procedure, so ask the UI Call Center what it requires for weeks the claimant certified for before death.
Sources
Data sourced from State Unemployment Benefits in Arizona primary sources (4 pages reviewed). How we research.
Administering agency
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) — Unemployment Insurance
Authority
A.R.S. §§ 23-771, 23-787