Recruitment Support & Information for Businesses Affected by COVID-19

If a claimant is cleared on a separation with you, the employer, they would be eligible to be paid the four weeks of benefits that we are waiving the work search for and you would automatically be charged for those weeks of payment.

Rates for 2020 will not be impacted. Any benefit charges that occur as a result of layoffs or reductions in hours due to the COVID-19 outbreak will not be assessed to the employer accounts and will not be used to calculate employer rates for 2021. Employers may be liable for charges due to a separation that was not the result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Rates may be impacted in the future depending on other factors that determine contribution rates.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of public health emergency as a result of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and if an individual must self-quarantine or take care of an immediate family member due to COVID-19, they would be eligible to apply and receive unemployment benefits.

Yes, employers who are laying people off or reducing hours as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak should provide employees with a notification letter.

Yes, employers should submit an LOI for all individuals on spring break.

The department is not able to answer that question for you. If the need for you to dismiss those staff is directly related to the COVID-19 under the following conditions of reduction in business, workers who are self-quarantined or directed to be quarantined, or who have immediate family who is quarantined, or workers who have their hours reduced as a result of COVID-19, they may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits to individuals who have exhausted their regular state Unemployment Insurance claim (26 weeks) with a benefit year that ended on or after July 1, 2019. There are two ways to apply for PEUC, by calling 1-877-664-6984, Monday-Friday, 7am to 7pm, or online by logging in to your account at www.jobs.state.nm.us and selecting "Apply for Federal Extension Benefits" from the left navigation.

For assistance with your employer account, call 1-877-664-6984 and select Option #2 or send an email to uitax.support@state.nm.us.

If a claimant is separated due to a layoff and does NOT have a return to work date, their PTO is not reportable to the department. If a claimant is separated due to a layoff AND has a definite return to work date within (4) four weeks, or remains working but with reduced hours and is receiving UI benefits, then they need to report any wages they have earned which would include PTO for the week they are working.