Article 1 Definitions 25-4-1 – 25-4-17
Article 2 Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund 25-4-30 – 25-4-33
Article 2A Employment Security Enhancement Funds 25-4-40.1
Article 3 Contributions and Payments in Lieu of Contributions 25-4-50 – 25-4-59
Article 4 Benefits 25-4-70 – 25-4-78
Article 5 Procedure for Claims for Benefits 25-4-90 – 25-4-97
Article 6 Administration 25-4-110 – 25-4-121
Article 7 General Provisions 25-4-130 – 25-4-154
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Terms Used In Alabama Code > Title 25 > Chapter 4 - Unemployment Compensation

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Annuity: A periodic (usually annual) payment of a fixed sum of money for either the life of the recipient or for a fixed number of years. A series of payments under a contract from an insurance company, a trust company, or an individual. Annuity payments are made at regular intervals over a period of more than one full year.
  • applicant: A natural person who files a written application with the governing body of any county or municipality in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-89A-3. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • authority: Any public corporation organized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • authority: A corporation created pursuant to this chapter. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION: A resolution or ordinance adopted by the governing body of any county or municipality in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-89A-3, that authorizes the incorporation of an authority. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • AWARDING AUTHORITY: Any governmental board, commission, agency, body, authority, instrumentality, department, or subdivision of the state, its counties and municipalities. See Alabama Code 39-2-1
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Base period: as used in this chapter , means the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters immediately preceding the first day of an individual benefit year. See Alabama Code 25-4-1
  • Baseline: Projection of the receipts, outlays, and other budget amounts that would ensue in the future without any change in existing policy. Baseline projections are used to gauge the extent to which proposed legislation, if enacted into law, would alter current spending and revenue levels.
  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Benefit year: as used in this chapter with respect to any individual, means the one-year period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which an individual who is unemployed first files a valid claim for benefits or a claim is filed by an employer on behalf of an employee working less than full time, and thereafter the one-year period beginning with the first day of the first week with respect to which such individual next files a valid claim for benefits or such claim is filed by an employer on behalf of an employee working less than full time, after the termination of his last preceding benefit year. See Alabama Code 25-4-3
  • Benefits: as used in this chapter , means the money payable to an individual with respect to his unemployment as provided in this chapter. See Alabama Code 25-4-2
  • board: The board of directors of an authority. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • bonds: Bonds, notes, or other obligations representing an obligation to pay money. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Calendar quarter: as used in this chapter , means the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31, except as the secretary shall by regulation otherwise prescribe. See Alabama Code 25-4-4
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contributions: as used in this chapter , means the money payments to the State Unemployment Compensation Fund, required by this chapter, on the basis of a percentage of wages. See Alabama Code 25-4-5
  • costs: As applied to a facility or any portion thereof, such term shall include all or any part of the cost of construction, acquisition, alteration, enlargement, extension, reconstruction, improvement, and remodeling of a facility, including all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, permits, approvals, licenses, and certificates and interests acquired or used for, in connection with or with respect to a facility, the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved, the cost of all machinery and equipment, financing charges, underwriters' commissions or discounts, interest prior to, during, and for a period of six months following estimated completion of such construction and acquisition, provisions for reserves for both principal and interest and for maintenance, extensions, enlargements, additions, and improvements to any facilities then being or theretofore acquired and all other amounts authorized by any authority to be paid into any special funds from proceeds of bonds issued by the authority, the cost of architectural, engineering, financial, and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates of cost and revenues, administrative expenses, expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing a facility, and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the construction and acquisition of a facility, the financing of such construction and acquisition and the placing of a facility in operation. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • county: Any county in the state. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • department: The Department of Human Resources. See Alabama Code 38-14-1
  • DETERMINING COUNTY: With respect to an authority, any county the governing body of which shall have made findings and determinations of fact pertaining to the organization of such authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-89A-3. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • DETERMINING MUNICIPALITY: With respect to an authority, any municipality the governing body of which shall have made findings and determinations of fact pertaining to the organization of such authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-89A-3. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • DETERMINING SUBDIVISION: With respect to an authority, any determining county or determining municipality. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
  • emergency: Payments for necessary medical expenses of the account owner or family member, expenses to avoid the eviction of the account owner from the account owner's primary residence, and for necessary living expenses following a loss of income

    (4) FIDUCIARY ORGANIZATION. See Alabama Code 38-14-1

  • employee: as used in this chapter , means any individual employed by an employer subject to this chapter, in which employment the relationship of master and servant exists between the employee and the person employing him. See Alabama Code 25-4-7
  • Employing unit: as used in this chapter , means any individual or type of organization, including any partnership, association, trust estate, joint stock company or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, trustee or successor thereof, or the legal representative of a deceased person, which has, or subsequent to January 1, 1935, had in its employ one or more individuals performing services for it within this state. See Alabama Code 25-4-9
  • employment: shall include service constituting employment under any unemployment compensation law of another state or of this state. See Alabama Code 25-4-16
  • Employment office: as used in this chapter , means a free public employment office or a branch thereof operated by this or any other state as a part of a state controlled system of public employment offices or by a federal agency charged with the administration of an unemployment compensation program or free public employment offices. See Alabama Code 25-4-11
  • enterprise: The business, undertaking or enterprise of furnishing services. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • facility: All or any part of either or both of (i) a solid waste disposal facility, and (ii) a resource recovery facility, including all land, rights-of-way, property rights, franchise rights, machinery, equipment, vehicles, furniture, fixtures, and all other property, rights, easements, and interests necessary or desirable in connection therewith. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation: A government corporation that insures the deposits of all national and state banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System. Source: OCC
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • FINANCIAL INSTITUTION: A federally insured bank, trust company, savings bank, building and loan association, savings and loan company or association, or credit union authorized to do business in this state. See Alabama Code 38-14-1
  • Fiscal year: as used in this chapter , shall mean the 12 consecutive month period beginning October 1 of each calendar year for employers who make payments in lieu of contributions to the fund. See Alabama Code 25-4-4
  • FORCE ACCOUNT WORK: Work paid for by reimbursing for the actual costs for labor, materials, and equipment usage incurred in the performance of the work, as directed, including a percentage for overhead and profit, where appropriate. See Alabama Code 39-2-1
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Fund: as used in this chapter , means the Unemployment Compensation Fund established by this chapter, to which all contributions and payments in lieu of contributions and from which all benefits required under this chapter shall be paid. See Alabama Code 25-4-12
  • Garnishment: Generally, garnishment is a court proceeding in which a creditor asks a court to order a third party who owes money to the debtor or otherwise holds assets belonging to the debtor to turn over to the creditor any of the debtor
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • GOVERNING BODY: With respect to a municipality, its city or town council, board of commissioners, or other like governing body exercising the legislative functions of a municipality and, with respect to a county, its county commission or other like governing body exercising the legislative functions of a county. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • GOVERNING BODY: The body or board, by whatsoever name it may be known, having charge of the finances of a municipality. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Impeachment: (1) The process of calling something into question, as in "impeaching the testimony of a witness." (2) The constitutional process whereby the House of Representatives may "impeach" (accuse of misconduct) high officers of the federal government for trial in the Senate.
  • incorporators: The persons forming a public corporation pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT: An account established for an eligible individual or family member as part of a qualified individual development account program with the following requirements:

    a. See Alabama Code 38-14-1

  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Insured work: as used in this chapter , means "employment" for "employers. See Alabama Code 25-4-13
  • Interest rate: The amount paid by a borrower to a lender in exchange for the use of the lender's money for a certain period of time. Interest is paid on loans or on debt instruments, such as notes or bonds, either at regular intervals or as part of a lump sum payment when the issue matures. Source: OCC
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • month: means a calendar month. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • municipality: An incorporated municipality in the state. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • municipality: Any city or town incorporated under the laws of the State of Alabama and the inhabitants of an area containing not less than 250 qualified electors outside of an unincorporated city or town who shall become incorporated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • PARALLEL ACCOUNT: A separate parallel account for all matching funds and earnings dedicated to individual development account owners, the sole holder of which is a qualified financial institution, a qualified fiduciary organization, or an Indian tribe. See Alabama Code 38-14-1
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Payments in lieu of contributions: as used in this chapter , means the money payments to the State Unemployment Compensation Fund, required by this chapter, from employers who reimburse the fund for the amount of regular benefits and extended benefits paid that is attributable to service in the employ of such employers as is required by this chapter. See Alabama Code 25-4-5
  • person: The state, a municipality, a county, or any political subdivision or agency of the state or county or a municipality, a public corporation, or any private corporation, individual, partnership, trust, or foundation. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • person: Natural persons, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, and other legal entities. See Alabama Code 39-2-1
  • preceding: means next before. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • PUBLIC PROPERTY: Real property which the state, county, municipality, or awarding authority thereof owns or has a contractual right to own or purchase, including easements, rights-of-way, or otherwise. See Alabama Code 39-2-1
  • PUBLIC WORKS: The construction, installation, repair, renovation, or maintenance of public buildings, structures, sewers, waterworks, roads, curbs, gutters, side walls, bridges, docks, underpasses, and viaducts as well as any other improvement to be constructed, installed, repaired, renovated, or maintained on public property and to be paid, in whole or in part, with public funds or with financing to be retired with public funds in the form of lease payments or otherwise. See Alabama Code 39-2-1
  • QUALIFIED PURPOSES: The use of the account owner's accumulated savings and matching funds for any of the following purposes:

    a. See Alabama Code 38-14-1

  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Recess: A temporary interruption of the legislative business.
  • RECOVERED RESOURCE: Material or energy in any form whatsoever, including but not limited to steam, gas, or electricity, which are or may be collected or recovered from or with respect to solid waste. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY: Such term shall include any land, building, plant, system, facility, equipment, or other property, or any combination of either thereof, used or useful or capable of future use in connection with the extracting, converting to energy, or otherwise separating and preparing solid waste for reuse. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • revenues: All rentals, receipts, income, and other charges derived or received or to be derived or received by the authority from any of the following: The operation by the authority of a facility or facilities, or part of either thereof; the sale, including installment sales or conditional sales, lease, sublease, or use or other disposition of any facility or portion thereof; the sale, lease, or other disposition of recovered resources; contracts, agreements, or franchises with respect to a facility (or portion thereof), with respect to recovered resources, or with respect to a facility (or portion thereof) and recovered resources, including but not limited to charges with respect to the disposal of solid waste received with respect to a facility, income received as a result of the sale or other disposition of recovered resources; any gift or grant received with respect thereto; proceeds of bonds to the extent of use thereof for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the bonds as authorized by the authority; proceeds from any insurance, condemnation, or guaranty pertaining to a facility or property mortgaged to secure bonds or pertaining to the financing of a facility; income and profit from the investment of the proceeds of bonds or of any revenues and the proceeds of any special tax to which it may be entitled. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • Secretary: as used in this chapter , means the Secretary of Labor or his authorized representatives; except, that during any interim in which there is no duly appointed and qualified Secretary of Labor, the same shall mean the Director of Unemployment Compensation, provided for in Section 25-2-3. See Alabama Code 25-4-6
  • services: Any one or more or all of the following: water, sewerage, telephone, gas or electric heat, light, or power services, commodities or facilities. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • SOLID WASTE: Any garbage, refuse, or sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded materials, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY: Such term shall include any land, building, plant, system, facility, trucks, and other motor vehicles, equipment or other property, whether real, personal, or mixed, or any combination of either thereof, used or useful or capable of future use in connection with the collection, storage, treatment, utilization, recycling, processing, transporting, or disposal of solid waste, including transfer stations, incinerators, sanitary landfill facilities, or other facilities necessary or desirable in connection therewith. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • SPECIAL TAX: Any tax which may be levied for the benefit of an authority or any facility owned or operated by it or the proceeds of which may have been appropriated, allocated, or apportioned to such authority, or to or for the benefit of any such facility, by the Legislature or by the governing body of a county or municipality. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • state: The State of Alabama. See Alabama Code 11-89A-2
  • State: as used in this chapter , includes, in addition to the states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Canada. See Alabama Code 25-4-14
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • territory: The geographical area coterminous with the boundaries of a municipality. See Alabama Code 39-7-1
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.
  • wages: as used in this chapter , shall mean such remuneration as was defined in this section prior to such date. See Alabama Code 25-4-16
  • Week: as used in this chapter , means such period of seven consecutive days, as the secretary may by regulation prescribe. See Alabama Code 25-4-17
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.