The Kansas Department of Labor has announced that those who typically were ineligible to receive unemployment benefits, can now receive unemployment under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program that was created by the federal CARES Act.
Under Kansas Employment Security Law, independent contractors, gig workers, and the self-employed were not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. They can now apply for unemployment benefits through the PUA.
Those eligible include the self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers, employees of religious organizations whose employment has been impacted by Covid-19, and those who do not have sufficient work history to file for traditional unemployment, or have been disqualified from state benefits, but who are impacted directly by Covid-19.
In addition, if approved, they will also qualify for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, receiving an additional $600 in weekly payments through July 25. The PUA runs through December 26.
To process the new claims, the Kansas Department of Labor created a separate system from the unemployment computer system which, due to its age, had led to long delays for filers. The state has also addressed the issue of delays in paying the additions $600 a week under the FPUC.
The state’s bank had set a cap of $75 million a day that could be transferred from state accounts. The bank has removed that cap and payments are going out.
If you are self-employed, a gig or contract worker, or otherwise feel you qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, you can apply at www.PUA.GetKansasBenefits.gov.
