Coronavirus and Unemployment Benefits: 50-State Resources
Coronavirus and Unemployment Benefits: 50-State Resources
In most states, unemployment benefits are available to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own, ready and able to accept work, actively seeking work, and whose past income meets a minimum amount based on a 12-month base period. Expanded unemployment benefits are accessible under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and include the following in addition to state benefits:
A weekly supplemental payment of $600 on top of any state-provided unemployment benefits until July 31, 2020.
An additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits, up to a maximum of 39 weeks, for people who have exhausted their state benefits.
Unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for independent contractors, gig workers, self-employed individuals, people with limited work histories, and others who may not normally qualify, including those who cannot work or who are partially unemployed due to being ill or quarantined as a result of coronavirus, caring for someone who has coronavirus, or caring for a child whose school is closed due to coronavirus. Note that the PUA benefit amount, which is distinct from the standard unemployment benefit amount listed for each state below, cannot exceed the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in the claimant’s state, and the minimum amount is half of the applicable state’s average weekly unemployment benefit amount.
Reimbursement to states for the first week of unemployment benefits for individuals living in states where the first week is not normally covered.
A requirement that states consider relaxing the “actively seeking work” requirement for those who have exhausted regular unemployment benefits if their ability to do so is affected by COVID-19.
The federal Department of Labor (DOL) will continue to release additional guidance on how the states should implement these programs. Some states are awaiting this information before allowing people to apply for benefits under the expanded eligibility portion of the federal program (i.e. for individuals who would not normally qualify), whereas others are encouraging people to apply as soon as possible, so the best way to find out when you should apply is to contact the unemployment benefits agency in your state.
While the disbursement of federal supplemental unemployment funds may be somewhat delayed due to the lag time in DOL implementing guidelines being released, claimants should receive the full benefit amounts for which they are eligible for all periods during which they were unemployed. Click on your state below to find out more about the unemployment benefits that are available where you live, and that you can potentially supplement through the expanded federal unemployment assistance programs.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 20 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for those seeking benefits due to COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits available during the pandemic include three weeks of coverage for those who are diagnosed with the virus, quarantined, caring for a family member with COVID-19, and those who are sent home for an extended period or laid off due to the outbreak. The work search requirement is suspended for claimants affected by COVID-19 who take reasonable steps to return to their prior work when the above-described circumstances end.
Standard Benefit Amount: $56 - $370 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for those seeking benefits due to COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who are sick with COVID-19, unable to work or underemployed due to the outbreak, or caring for children due to school closures. There is also an increase in the per-dependent benefit from $24 to $75 per week for families who have lost income as well as childcare. Work search requirements are waived for people claiming benefits due to COVID-19.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (temporarily suspended due to COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to people who have lost wages due to their workplace closing as a result of the outbreak, those who are following mandates to self-quarantine and intend to return to work, and those who are caring for family members. Work search requirements are suspended for the duration of the coronavirus emergency.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 16 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for 30 days due to COVID-19, effective March 18, 2020)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Requirements to be actively seeking work and for in-person follow-up after filing a claim are waived for 30 days starting March 18, 2020 for people who have lost work through no fault of their own due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Individuals who are sick due to the virus are encouraged to apply for state Disability Insurance, and those caring for ill family members are encouraged to apply for state Paid Family Leave. Workers who are not ill or caring for sick family members but who have lost hours due to COVID-19, including those who are caring for children whose schools are closed, can seek unemployment benefits. Work search requirements are waived for those unemployed due to COVID-19 and expecting to return to work within a few weeks.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: For 30 days starting March 20, 2020, the maximum duration of state unemployment benefits is extended to 39 weeks, procedural notice periods to interested parties before unemployment benefits can issue are waived, and the requirement to be actively seeking work is waived.
Standard Benefit Amount: $15 - $649 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: None
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Workers whose employers have had to temporarily close or slow business down due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for benefits. Workers who have been furloughed and expect to return to work can access six weeks of benefits. The requirement to be actively seeking work is waived during the pandemic as long as individuals remain ready to return to work.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Unemployment benefits may be available to workers who are ill or quarantined, caring for a family member with COVID-19, caring for a child, or whose place of employment has closed or reduced their hours due to the pandemic. Work search requirements are suspended during the state of emergency.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Unemployment benefits are available to workers who are ill or quarantined, or whose place of employment has closed or reduced their hours due to the pandemic. Benefits may also be available to those who are caring for a family member with COVID-19. Work search requirements are suspended for those unemployed or partially unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Workers who are quarantined, caring for a sick family member, and whose workplaces are temporarily closed, permanently closed, or who have had their hours significantly reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic may be eligible for benefits. Work search requirements are suspended from the week beginning March 15, 2020 through the week ending May 2, 2020.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the duration of benefits has been extended to 26 weeks, and a new rule allows $300 per week in earnings that won’t be counted against an individual’s unemployment benefits. Benefits have also been expanded to include people who have temporarily lost work due to the coronavirus outbreak, and who plan to return to work once it ends, as well as people who are quarantined, people 60 or older and caregivers who live with them, people with health conditions that make them particularly susceptible to coronavirus and caregivers who live with them, and people who are caring for children whose schools are closed due to COVID-19. Work search and any other in-person requirements have also been suspended. These rules apply to claims filed on or after March 14, 2020.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: People who are unable to work because of the pandemic can apply for unemployment benefits, while those who are ill or quarantined due to the virus can apply for Temporary Disability Insurance. Those who are caring for an ill or quarantined family member may be eligible for family leave under state law. The work search requirement is temporarily waived due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived due to COVID-19 for claims filed on or after March 8, 2020)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Workers are eligible for unemployment benefits if they have been laid off or lost hours due to the pandemic, or are isolated and unavailable to work pursuant to a request from their employer, a medical professional, or public health district, and plan to return to the same employer. Work search requirements are waived for these individuals if they are out of work due to the COVID-19 outbreak; for individuals not planning to return to the same employer, two work search activities per week are required. Parties also have an extra 14 days to appeal any unemployment benefit decisions.
Standard Benefit Amount: $51 - $484 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived due to COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Individuals who have been temporarily laid off due to COVID-19 but expect to return to work may be eligible for benefits. Similarly, people who are confined to their homes because they have been diagnosed with coronavirus, are providing care for a family member who is ill, because of a government-issued quarantine, or because they are caring for children whose schools are closed may qualify, but they must be actively seeking work from home.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 Week (waived due to COVID-19, retroactive to the week of March 8, 2020)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Employees who are temporarily laid off due to COVID-19 are eligible for benefits if they have met a minimum income requirement and plan to return to their job. Similarly, people who are quarantined pursuant to a directive from a doctor or their employer, and people who are otherwise eligible but caring for children whose schools are closed, can qualify for benefits if they meet a minimum income requirement and are not receiving any paid sick or other leave. Work search requirements and in-person meeting requirements are suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Standard Benefit Amount: $72 - $481 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: None
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Employees who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for benefits if they meet minimum income requirements; people who have lost hours may qualify as well. Workers who are quarantined or caring for children whose schools are closed and who are not able to telework or utilize PTO or other leave may also qualify. Work search requirements are waived for claims related to coronavirus.
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 16-26 weeks, subject to unemployment rate
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived due to COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: People who have lost hours or their jobs due to the pandemic may be eligible for unemployment benefits, and the work search requirement is waived for employees who have not removed themselves from the labor market and/or are taking all reasonable steps to return to their previous jobs. Benefits are extended to 26 weeks through April 2021.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Eligibility has been expanded to additional groups, including the self-employed, independent contractors, freelance workers, substitute teachers, childcare workers employed by religiously-affiliated organizations and nonprofits, people who worked part-time over the past year, and people who left employment because of COVID-19 due to reasonable risk of exposure or caring for a family member affected by coronavirus. The work search requirement is waived for all claimants during the coronavirus outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for people whose employment has been affected by COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to people whose hours have been reduced due to COVID-19, people who are not being paid while their workplaces are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, and people who are not being paid while they are staying at home after being instructed not to go to work due to the pandemic. The work search requirement is waived for people whose employment has been affected by coronavirus.
Standard Benefit Amount: $77 - $445 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees of employers that temporarily cease operations due to COVID-19 and to employees who are quarantined with the expectation of returning to work once the quarantine is over. The work search requirement is waived for employees who are still connected to their employer.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to people who are temporarily laid off because their employer shuts down due to COVID-19. Benefits may be available to people who leave their employer due to a risk of exposure to the virus or a need to care for a family member who has COVID-19. Partial benefits may be available to employees who are working reduced hours due to the pandemic. Employees who miss work due to illness should use employer-paid time off. The work search requirement is waived for all claimants during the coronavirus outbreak.
Standard Benefit Amount: $98 - $823 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 30 weeks (26 weeks when unemployment is low)
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for workers affected by COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to people who have been quarantined due to COVID-19, regardless of whether they are scheduled to return to the same job after the quarantine. Benefits may be available to employees who leave their jobs due to a reasonable fear of exposure to coronavirus. Partial benefits may be available to employees who are working reduced hours due to COVID-19. The work search requirement is not waived except for employees who are scheduled to return to the same job after a quarantine, who must also remain in reasonable contact with the employer.
Standard Benefit Amount: $150 - $362 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 20 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to people who are laid off or who leave work due to self-isolation or self-quarantine in response to elevated risk from COVID-19. Benefits may be available to workers on a leave of absence from their jobs unless they are using sick leave or receiving disability benefits. The requirements to register for work and search for work are waived during the coronavirus pandemic.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees who are taking an unpaid leave of absence due to COVID-19, but not to employees who are taking a paid leave of absence. To qualify, an employee must have been told to stay home from work by a health care professional or health authority, must have taken a voluntary layoff to prevent another employee from being laid off, or must have lost access to their ordinary childcare and failed to find an alternative or arrange an accommodation with their employer. The work search requirement is not waived, except for employees who have been temporarily laid off and are staying in touch with their employer.
Waiting Period: 1 week (suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to workers who are quarantined due to COVID-19 but will return to their employers. Benefits are not currently available to workers who cannot work due to their illness or a family member’s illness. Partial benefits may be available to employees whose hours have been reduced due to the pandemic. The work search requirement is suspended during the coronavirus outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived for claims filed as a result of COVID-19)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are generally available to employees when their employer temporarily shuts down operations due to COVID-19. Certain employees in this situation are not subject to the work search requirement. Benefits also are generally available to employees who are in mandatory quarantine. Benefits may be available to employees who are in voluntary quarantine or who are ill, unless they are receiving pay while they are not working. Benefits are generally not available to employees who leave their jobs to care for children due to school or daycare closures caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees of employers that are required to shut down because of the pandemic. Benefits are also available to employees in mandatory quarantine due to COVID-19. Benefits are generally not available to asymptomatic employees who voluntarily quarantine or employees who leave work to care for a child whose school is closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Benefits may be available to employees who are asked by their employer to take a temporary, voluntary leave of absence to help the employer avoid more drastic cost-saving measures. The work search requirement is waived if there is reasonable assurance that an employee will return to work or start a new job.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: If a claimant’s workplace is still open, they must provide a doctor’s note with their application to explain the types of work that they can perform. Benefits may be available to employees in mandatory quarantine. Benefits are not generally available to employees who are staying at home, unless they are not working. The work search requirement is waived during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who have been laid off because their employer shut down due to COVID-19. Benefits are not available to employees who are not working but still receiving pay. Partial benefits may be available to employees who are working reduced hours because of the pandemic. The work search requirement is waived for all claimants during the coronavirus outbreak.
Waiting Period: 1 week (suspended during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to self-employed people who are affected by the pandemic but who would not be eligible otherwise. Benefits also are available based on job loss related to a diagnosis of COVID-19, a quarantine designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a need to care for a family member who has been diagnosed with or quarantined for COVID-19, or a need to care for a child who is staying home because their school or childcare facility has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The work search requirement is waived for all claimants during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Standard Benefit Amount: $120 - $713 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: None
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who lose their jobs because their employers close due to COVID-19, or because they have the virus or are quarantined because of it. Benefits are available to employees who cannot work due to a need to care for a family member affected by coronavirus or a child whose school or daycare has closed due to the pandemic. Benefits also are available to freelancers, independent, contractors, and gig workers who lose work due to COVID-19. Benefits are not available to an employee who refuses to work while an employer is legally open, but benefits might be available to an employee who refuses to work while an employer is illegally open. The work search requirement is temporarily suspended.
Standard Benefit Amount: $86 - $461 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who are laid off due to financial stress on their employers caused by COVID-19, or who have their hours reduced due to the pandemic. Benefits also are available to employees who are subject to a quarantine, or who have an immediate family member who is subject to a quarantine. The work search requirement is waived for claimants in these groups for up to four weeks.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees of businesses that have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Partial benefits may be available to employees whose hours have been reduced due to the coronavirus outbreak. Benefits are generally not available to employees who are subject to a quarantine due to COVID-19, but these employees are entitled to paid sick leave and other protections under a separate law. Benefits are also generally not available to employees who voluntarily leave their jobs due to health concerns, unless the employer does not provide a reasonable alternative.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available for people who have been temporarily laid off, whose employers have closed, or whose hours have been reduced due to COVID-19. Benefits may be available for people who are subject to a quarantine, even if they are not ill. However, benefits will not be available to an employee in quarantine who is being paid by their employer, or who has removed themselves from the labor market. The work search requirement is waived for claimants who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who lose their jobs due to COVID-19, or because they have the virus, or are quarantined because of it. Benefits are available to employees if they cannot report for work because they no longer have childcare available to them due to the coronavirus pandemic. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Standard Benefit Amount: $134 - $480 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who lose their jobs due to COVID-19, or who are isolated or quarantined as a consequence of the pandemic, even if they are not actually diagnosed with the virus. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who lose their jobs due to COVID-19, or who are isolated or quarantined as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak, even if they are not actually diagnosed with COVID-19. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees who lose their jobs due to COVID-19, or who are isolated or quarantined as a consequence of the pandemic, even if they are not actually diagnosed with coronavirus. Benefits may be available to those on a temporary layoff. Benefits may also be available to those who choose not to come to work because of the risk of exposure to the virus.The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Standard Benefit Amount: $68 - $572 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available if your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19 or if your employer reduces your hours because of the pandemic. Benefits are available to employees if you have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19. Benefits are available if you have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry: (888) 313-7284; American Sign Language videophone service available Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at (717) 704-8474
Standard Benefit Amount: $53 - $586 per week (plus supplements for dependents)
Maximum Duration/Amount of Benefits: 26 weeks
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available if your place of business closes or you are directed by your employer to remain home due to COVID-19. Benefits may be available if you have to stay out of work to care for your children due to quarantine, illness, or school/daycare closings. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available if an employer temporarily closes and lays off its staff due to coronavirus. Benefits are available if an employer remains open, but lays off some staff due to lost business caused by the pandemic. The work search requirement has been temporarily suspended for claimants due to COVID-19.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available if you were scheduled to start work and do not have a job as a result of the pandemic. Benefits are also available if you have to quit your job because of COVID-19 or are unable to reach your place of employment because you have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Claims Call Center: (605) 626-3179 (file-by-phone schedule based on first letter of last name), speech and hearing impaired applicants can call (800) 877-1113
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits are available to employees impacted by a temporary or permanent workplace shutdown, or due to their employer reducing their workforce as a result of the pandemic. Benefits are also available to claimants who have left their employment after being directed by a medical professional or health authority to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19, provided that they intend to return to work. Benefits may be available if a claimant self-quarantines due to COVID-19 without professional or health authority proof. The work search requirement has been temporarily suspended.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees who have been temporarily or permanently laid off, or who have lost hours due to the pandemic. Benefits may also be available to employees who lose work because they are staying home to care for a sick family member. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees temporarily or permanently laid off due to COVID-19. Benefits may be available if you are unable to go to work because your place of employment has been quarantined. Applicants may be granted a work search deferral.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees who have lost hours or been temporarily laid off due to a slowdown in business resulting from the pandemic. Benefits may also be available to employees who have left their employment due to factors related to COVID-19, including facing an unreasonable risk of exposure at work, caring for a family member who is sick or isolated as a result of the virus, or caring for a child who has had their school or childcare center closed. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees who have lost hours or whose workplaces have temporarily closed as a result of COVID-19. Beginning with claims effective March 15, 2020, the work search requirement has been temporarily suspended for those receiving unemployment insurance benefits.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to workers whose employers have gone out of business, who have been laid off temporarily, or whose hours have been reduced due to a business slowdown or a lack of demand as a result of COVID-19. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
Waiting Period: 1 week (waived during the COVID-19 outbreak)
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees whose employers have gone out of business as a result of COVID-19. Benefits may also be available to those who have been laid off work temporarily or had their hours reduced as a result of the pandemic. Benefits may similarly be available to employees who have had to quit their jobs because of a quarantine recommended by a healthcare provider, or because their child’s daycare has closed and they are now acting as the primary caregiver. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to employees whose place of work has gone out of business as a result of COVID-19. Benefits may also be available to workers impacted by a worksite shutdown or reduction in hours related to the pandemic. The work search requirement has been temporarily waived for all claimants.
State Benefits Related to Coronavirus: Benefits may be available to workers whose employers have closed their businesses permanently, or who have been permanently laid off due to a loss of production caused by COVID-19. Benefits may also be available to those temporarily laid off due to a slowdown in business, with the expectation that these employees will return to work.
