All claimants will continue to receive a work search waiver until further notice
For Immediate Release
July 10, 2020
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
All claimants will continue to receive a work search waiver
until further notice
(Albuquerque, NM) – In light of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) will continue to waive the work search requirements for Unemployment Insurance claimants.
In a release sent out last month, NMDWS had scheduled to end the work search waiver for all claimants other than those on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) on July 18, 2020. The waiver will now remain in place for all claimants until further notice.
Individuals who had previously been on unemployment, returned to work, and now may be let go from their job again or have hours reduced, may reopen their claim. Claims close after two weeks of inactivity and a claimant not filling out their weekly certification. To reopen a claim, claimants may either log in to the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System (www.jobs.state.nm.us) and click on the “Reopen Claim” link or call the UI Operations Center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 7am -7pm.
If an individual has exhausted their 26 weeks of regular state Unemployment benefits, they will see a link to apply for the next tier of benefits available to them. For detailed information on the UI program progression under the CARES Act please refer to the document available on the NMDWS COVID-19 Information for Workers webpage.
After a claim is reopened, the claimant will be able to start their weekly certifications the following Sunday. If the claimant has a separation other than due to lack of work, payment may be held until a determination is made. If there are no issues holding payment, a claimant will begin to see benefit payments within 72 business hours from when they complete their weekly certification. Note that certifications are not required to be completed on Sundays, and may be completed at any point during the week.
In addition to the above change, NMDWS is advising all claimants that the last payable week for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an additional benefit of $600 per week, will be the week ending July 25, 2020.
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