UPDATE: One Billion Dollars in Utah Unemployment Benefits have now been paid out since the shutdown. (Updated July 12th, 2020)
SALT LAKE CITY (April 9, 2020) — The number of new claims filed for unemployment benefits in Utah was 33,076 for the week of March 29 to April 4, 2020. Part of the Unemployment Insurance system is filing a weekly claim, there were 33,290 weekly claims filed during that same week. A total of $6,881,153 was paid in benefits reflecting payments going out and claims being processed in the midst of a record volume.
Since the shutdown started, just over three weeks ago now, Utah caseworkers have received over 80,000 new applications for assistance. To put this into perspective, there were approximately 63,000 cases filed for the entire 2019 calendar year.
“We continue to receive new claims at an unprecedented level,” said Kevin Burt, Unemployment Insurance Division director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services. “The Unemployment Insurance Division staff’s priority is getting payments out. Amidst this workload, the team stands out as one of the first states in the nation to make federal stimulus programs available. I am proud of their outstanding work and the critical resources they’re providing to Utahns.”
And, as announced by the Governor earlier this week, Utah will be one of the first states in the country to start making the $600 per week stimulus program available, funds that will be added to the amount provided through the state. Claimants will see it included in their weekly benefit payments moving forward and retroactively for those who received a payment this week.
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed a federal stimulus package known as the CARES Act. More precisely called The Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act. Within this act are three benefits that unemployed individuals may be eligible for. These benefits are outlined on the jobs.utah.gov/covid19 website with additional questions answered throughout their site.
Anyone who has been self-employed for an extended period of time will tell you, filing for unemployment benefits is not an available option under normal circumstances. However, the circumstances we find ourselves in right now are anything but normal.
That being said, anyone who has ever lived through a national disaster, such as a hurricane or major earthquake, who was also self-employed at the time, will tell you differently. Most self-employed individuals who find themselves in the midst of a disaster ARE eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or in our case today, Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus Act.
Starting sometime next week, anyone who has been self-employed in the state of Utah, and has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 shutdown, will be able to apply for assistance on the jobs.utah.gov website. Applicants can expect to receive at least $600/week and as much as $900/week or more… Claimants should expect 21-30 days for the processing of these applications.
If an individual’s employment has been impacted by COVID-19 they should visit jobs.utah.gov/covid19. Individuals needing assistance should apply online and take the time to complete their application fully. The division will contact applicants if there is a need for additional information to process their claim; there is no need for applicants to contact the division.
