New Mexicans may be able to reopen their UI claim after repeated disruption to employment due to COVID-19
For Immediate Release
November 13, 2020
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
New Mexicans may be able to reopen their UI claim after repeated disruption to employment due to COVID-19
(Albuquerque, NM) – New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) informs 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 have the option to reopen their Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim.
Claims close after three weeks of inactivity and a claimant not completing their weekly certifications. To reopen a claim, claimants may either log in to the Unemployment Insurance Tax and 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, 7:00am to 5:00pm.
If a claimant has left their claim inactive for less than three weeks, they will still see their weekly certification links and may continue to complete those weekly certifications on their claim.
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. This includes Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) or Federal Extended Benefits. 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.
If an individual’s claim has ended since the start of the pandemic, they will be able to file a new claim to determine eligibility. If they are ineligible for a new claim, they will be redirected to either reopen their old claim or to file a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim.
Individuals who were previously on PUA, returned to work, and now need to file for benefits again will need to click on the “Apply for Benefits” link. They will then be asked a short series of questions to determine eligibility.
After a claim is reopened, the claimant will be able to start their weekly certifications the following Sunday. If the claimant has a separation for other reasons than 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 completed their weekly certification. Note that certifications are not required to be completed on Sundays, and may be completed on any other day during the week.
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