Oklahoma officials say they don’t know the impact to the state after President Donald Trump’s executive action that includes providing up to $400 in weekly unemployment benefits.
“The State of Oklahoma is reviewing the details of President Trump’s memorandum on unemployment benefits,” Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s communications director Baylee Lakey said in an email to the Tulsa World. “The CARES FORWARD team is working to obtain further guidance from the federal government regarding its implementation as well as to determine a projected cost for the State.”
Trump signed a memorandum Saturday that directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make up to $44 billion from its Coronavirus Relief Fund available to those whose jobs or wages have been adversely affected by COVID-19.
The program calls for states to provide 25% of the share of the $400 weekly benefit, or $100.
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Trump’s action calls upon states to utilize unspent federal COVID-19 relief funding “or other state funding” to pay its $100 share of the $400 benefit.
The program would be retroactive to Aug. 1 and extend until the balance in the FEMA COVID-19 relief fund reaches $25 billion or Dec. 6, which ever occurs first. The FEMA relief fund currently has more than $80 billion in unspent funds, according to the memorandum.
Lakey did not provide the Tulsa World with an estimate as to how much was available in the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, when asked.
However, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission said while there was $422 million available in the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund account, “it’s important to note the $100 would not come out of the Trust Fund.”
The state Unemployment Trust Fund had a balance of $1.1 billion at the beginning of the year, according to a U.S. Department of Labor February report.
Congress has not been able to come up with a new COVID-19 relief bill after one that provided $600 in weekly unemployment benefits ran out at the end of July.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued a statement Saturday after Trump’s authorization to use relief funding to pay for unemployment benefits:
“The Memorandum follows the refusal of Democratic leadership to allow even a short-term extension of federal unemployment benefits while the parties negotiated a longer-term plan. The Department of Labor will now work closely with the States and the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to assist in providing the relief made available by the Memorandum.”
It’s been widely reported that the weekly federal unemployment benefit has been a major sticking point in negotiations, with Democrats calling for maintaining the $600 weekly benefit and Republicans favoring a $400 weekly federal payment.
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Q&A: Filing unemployment claims amid virus-related job losses
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How long does it take to get the benefits?
Typically, the wait time from the start of the process to when the applicant receives benefits is 12 to 14 days after they are approved. The approval letter could come up to 20 days after applying.
On March 19, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an order that temporarily suspended the one-week waiting period before unemployment benefits can be paid.
What if I still technically have a job?
Employees who are not formally laid off but have their hours reduced to zero can still apply for benefits.
Full-time employees whose hours are reduced to less than 32 hours are considered part-time and eligible to file for benefits under certain conditions.
How long can I receive benefits?
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced on July 27 that those who have maxed out their state benefits may now continue to receive regular state unemployment benefits for up to an additional 13 weeks.
Traditionally, those out-of-work may claim unemployment insurance benefits for up to 26 weeks per year.
What if I need additional assistance with my claim?
Assistance can be found at OESC’s 27 regional offices, which are continuing to see claimants in person — with masks required and social distancing in effect. Regional office staff also can assist claimants over the phone via their local office number.
Click here to see all American Job Center locations in the state.
How many Oklahomans filed for unemployment during the pandemic?
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has experienced record-setting or higher-than-average unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state unemployment rate was 6.6% in June after peaking in April at 13.7%. The unemployment rate in May was 12.6%. An estimated 116,602 were considered out of work in June; as of October, 884,252 initial claims for jobless benefits have been filed in Oklahoma.
Curtis Killman
918-581-8471
curtis.killman
@tulsaworld.com
Twitter: @loucardfan61
Curtis Killman
Tulsa World Staff Writer
