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Starting Monday, Louisianans who lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic will receive federally enhanced unemployment insurance payments in addition to the unemployment they already receive from the state.
State Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says the higher payments should be automatically added to your benefits if you’ve recertified your hours.
“They will be in that first group of people who get paid this Monday out of our initial installment of 85 million from Congress,” says Dejoie.
State benefits cap out at 247 dollars a week, but the feds are now throwing an extra 600 dollars a week on top of it.
Dejoie says contract workers who did not previously qualify for the state’s unemployment now qualify for the federal benefits.
“We will message those individuals and our system is already going back in and looking at everyone’s eligibility and saying what their next steps are,” says Dejoie.
Self-employed, gig economy, and workers whose employer’s hadn’t paid into the trust fund will now qualify.
Dejoie says the state received the federal funds this week, and so many recipients will receive two weeks’ worth of benefits on their Monday check.
“So retroactive to April 4th those that have completed their weekly recertification will get one lump sum payment,” says Dejoie.
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