03/13/2020

States May Provide Jobless Benefits for Coronavirus

Benefits can be paid in cases of temporary unemployment

The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday gave states flexibility to amend their laws to provide unemployment benefits in events related to the coronavirus in an effort to limit the damage on the economy from the pandemic.

States can pay benefits in cases of temporary unemployment because the coronavirus is preventing employees from coming to work. Individuals quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over can also receive unemployment benefits as well as those leaving employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member. 

“The administration is using all available tools to decrease the risk of coronavirus in the United States and to assist workers who may be affected,” said Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia in a statement. “Under the guidance issued today, states have greater assurance about the circumstances in which they are authorized to extend unemployment insurance benefits to Americans whose employment has been disrupted by coronavirus.”

Please select this link to read the complete article from Reuters.