COVID-19 information for workers

People who have lost their jobs or had their hours significantly reduced because of COVID-19 may qualify for unemployment benefits.

You may be eligible for unemployment benefits if you meet all other eligibility requirements; and:

You have temporarily or permanently lost your job or had your hours significantly reduced because of COVID-19.
A healthcare professional or health authority recommended or ordered you to avoid contact with others due to COVID-19.
You have been ordered not to come to your workplace due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
You have received notification from a school district, daycare, or other childcare provider that either classes are canceled or your usual childcare is unavailable, as long as you made a reasonable effort to find other childcare and requested time off or other accommodation from your employer and no reasonable accommodation was available.

What do I need to know about unemployment benefits?

If you are unemployed due to COVID-19, your experience will be similar to anyone else who needs to apply for unemployment benefits.

If you've become unemployed or had your hours greatly reduced, you should:

Complete the initial application for unemployment benefits.
Request a benefit payment for each week you are unemployed, even if your initial application is still under review.
Read the Information Handbook for an overview of the Unemployment Insurance program.
Monitor your online account and your mail for any notifications from us.
Respond to all requests for information completely, honestly and in a timely manner.

If you have questions, our UI Customer Service Representatives are here to help. Wait times may be longer than usual due to increased call volume.

Will I qualify for the additional $600 payments or the additional $300 payments?
You may have heard about various new benefit programs created during the pandemic. These include:
- For weeks of unemployment between March 29, 2020– July 25, 2020: $600 per week additional payments were available to anyone receiving regular or extended unemployment benefits. This program is now expired.
- For weeks of unemployment between July 26, 2020 – September 5, 2020: $300 per week additional payments were available to eligible applicants receiving regular or extended unemployment benefits. This program is now expired.
- For weeks of unemployment between December 27, 2020 – March 14, 2021: $300 per week additional payments are available to anyone receiving regular or extended unemployment benefits.
Can I collect unemployment benefits if I lose my part-time job(s) due to COVID-19, but still have my full-time job?
I have a pending eligibility issue on my account. What should I do?
Will I qualify for a benefit extension if my regular unemployment benefits run out?