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LAPLACE— Unemployment benefits may be available for employees that have been impacted for reasons related to COVID-19. Circumstances include:

• Work hours have been reduced because of lack of work due to the coronavirus.
• Workplace closes temporarily, and individuals are not being compensated.
• Employees are being instructed not to go to work, and not being paid while at home.

A claim can be filed at www.louisianaworks.net/hire or by calling the Louisiana Workforce Claim Center at 866-783-5567.

Currently, Claim Center hours have been expanded to 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.

Be sure to answer “yes” to the question, “Are you filing for Unemployment Insurance benefits for reasons related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)?” This will provide needed information to the LWC to help process your claim.

If employee work hours have been reduced, partial benefits could be available up to a maximum of $247 a week.

A number of factors determine eligibility for benefits and each case is reviewed separately. The maximum number of weeks that unemployment benefits can be paid per claim is 26 weeks in a 12-month period.

As per the Governor’s proclamation, for individuals whose employment has been impacted due to COVID-19, work search requirements and one week waiting period are waived as is the week of waiting.