Unemployment Benefit Eligibility Expanded for Workers Who Declined Work Due to Pandemic Safety Concerns
Many workers declined to work over the last year due to pandemic concerns. Among them were many who lost (or were denied the right to apply for) state unemployment benefits.
A new directive from the White House has expanded eligibility, and the DOL is now offering new guidance to unemployment agencies about the recently mandated expansion.
The new guidance expands eligibility to the following:
- Workers receiving unemployment benefits who had their continued regular unemployment benefits’ claims denied after they refused to work or accept an offer of work at a worksite not in compliance with coronavirus health and safety standards.
- Workers laid off, or who’ve had their work hours reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.
- School employees working without a contract or reasonable assurance of continued employment who face reduced paychecks and no assurance of continued pay when schools are closed due to coronavirus.
Click here to view the new DOL guidance in its entirety.
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The information contained in this article is intended for educational purposes and to provide a general understanding of regulatory events, legislative changes and the law – not to provide specific legal advice.