COVID-19. Social distancing. Events cancelled. Schools closed. Government buildings closed. Offices closed. Churches closed. Retail stores closed. Restaurants closed. Stay home.
In February, 2020, the unemployment rate in the United States was 3.5%. In Box Butte County it was 3.0%. Due to the coronavirus this rate may go to 30%. 10,000,000 Americans were laid off the last two weeks of March due to COVID-19. Nebraska anticipates losing 90,000 jobs by summer.
What if you are one of the people who lost your job in the last few weeks? You file for Unemployment Compensation. Both the State of Nebraska and the federal government have expanded the amounts you can receive, and it is easier than ever to claim unemployment.
NEWorks.nebraska.gov is where you apply for unemployment insurance benefits in Nebraska. Our state’s benefits replace 50% of your average weekly wage, up to $440. You can collect unemployment compensation for 26 weeks (six months). You get either a debit card or a direct deposit to your bank account. If you don’t have a computer, ask your employer to use theirs to get you signed up. If you have a computer but no Internet access, park by the library and use their free WIFI. As long as you are unemployed, you will need to file a weekly claim.
From March 22 through May 2, the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) is waiving the requirement to search for work to be eligible for benefits. Additionally, NDOL Commissioner John H. Albin says NDOL is waiving the requirement that applicants serve an unpaid waiting week once their eligibility has been determined, which still may take up to 21 days.
The federal government has passed some additions to our state’s plan. The Federal Pandemic Compensation Program will pay you an additional $600 per week for up to four months if your layoff was due to COVID-19. If the coronavirus pandemic continues beyond six months, the federal government will extend your unemployment compensation for another 13 weeks.
Nebraska has a work-share program, where employers may put workers on part-time schedules with partial unemployment benefits. It helps to prevent layoffs by allowing employers to reduce their workers’ hours by 10-60%, who are then eligible to receive an unemployment benefit based on their reduction in hours. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance also allows self employed and independent contractors to collect unemployment compensation, even though they may not have been eligible for checks in the past.
One other temporary change in unemployment policies is that the state has waived charges incurred by employers who laid off workers due to COVID-19. Remember that unemployment is an insurance policy, and benefits are paid using premiums collected from employers; when claims are filed, their rates would normally go up.
What about your health insurance? Many employers provide full or partial payment as a company benefit. If you are laid off, be sure to find out how your coverage can continue. If you are asked to have premiums taken from your bank account, do it! This is not the time to let your insurance lapse.
One other benefit approved by Congress in March is that we will be receiving stimulus checks from the government. Payments up to $1,200 per person will be made to US residents who earn under $75,000. The amount decreases by $5 per every $100 earned after that, zeroing out at $99,000. For couples the earnings and payment amounts are doubled. Payments increase an additional $500 per child through age 17 (with a Social Security number). The IRS will use information for earnings and bank deposits provided on your 2019 or 2018 tax return.
Many of our local businesses are offering special services during this time of isolation. You can call offices for information. Most importantly, you can get delivery of groceries, meals, or medication, whether it is to your home or curbside. When this is all over, be sure to support those who supported you.