Additional unemployment payments for Alaskans to be distributed soon

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Friday, September 18th, 2020 2:18pm

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaskans on unemployment will soon be receiving some additional help, courtesy of FEMA and the president.

Governor Mike Dunleavy and Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter announced today that $62 million in funding, provided by President Donald Trump’s executive order, will be allocated to Alaska from the FEMA Lost Wages Assistance program.

“I want to thank President Trump for his executive order directing FEMA to assist displaced workers, including self-employed workers, through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program,” said Gov. Dunleavy. “Financial assistance to Alaskans now, who are ready and waiting to go back to work when their jobs return, will help protect Alaskan families and the overall economy.”  

“The unemployment insurance program has provided critical replacement wages for Alaskans impacted by COVID-19. We are grateful to our federal partners for the additional resources provided to Alaskans during these challenging times,” said Commissioner Ledbetter.

The Lost Wages Assistance payment funded by FEMA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be distributed to eligible individuals once programming is completed. Payments will be made to regularly-covered unemployment insurance recipients and the self-employed.

Individuals will receive the additional $300 payment for each week filed if they were eligible to receive at least $100 or more of weekly state UI benefits and are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 disruption.

 

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