Alabama will make Login.gov the primary identity verification method for initial unemployment compensation claims beginning September 30, requiring applicants to complete the process within 10 calendar days of filing.
The Alabama Department of Workforce has set out a workflow that begins inside the state’s Unemployment Claimant Portal. After submitting an initial claim, applicants return to the portal home screen and select an Identity Verification link, which directs them to Login.gov. They can use an existing account or create a new one.
Verification involves uploading a government-issued photo ID, entering personal information, confirming a phone number and taking a selfie if requested. The department says applicants must follow the process through to a completion screen confirming that identity verification has been submitted. Failure to provide proof of identity within the deadline may delay or lead to denial of unemployment benefits.
An in-person option is available through participating U.S. Post Office locations. Applicants first complete the required fields online, then take their Login.gov barcode and the requested identity document to the designated location. The postal visit is not the final step: applicants must return to Login.gov afterward and select the consent option allowing verification results to be shared with the workforce department.
Online verification remains the required first option. If it is unsuccessful, or a claim is denied because identity verification was not completed, applicants may seek help at an Alabama Career Center. They must bring a valid government-issued photo ID and Social Security card, plus proof of address where their address differs from the one printed on the ID.
Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said the verification requirement is intended to protect claimants and prevent fraud in the unemployment system. He encouraged applicants to start promptly and complete every instruction rather than stopping before the final confirmation.
Alabama’s adoption comes as federal agencies face a separate two-year schedule to move public-facing authentication onto Login.gov. The service also supports access to the FMCSA’s Motus registration platform, which incorporates IDEMIA identity verification. For Alabama unemployment applicants, the starting point remains the state claimant portal, where the verification link appears after an initial claim is filed.
Sources: Alabama Department of Workforce
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
