Governor: Indiana ending all pandemic-related unemployment benefits
Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced Monday that Indiana will end its participation in all federally funded pandemic unemployment insurance programs effective June 19th.
There are help wanted signs posted all over Indiana, and while our economy took a hit last year, it is roaring like an Indy 500 race car engine now. I am hearing from multiple sector employers that they want and need to hire more Hoosiers to grow, Holcomb announced. We have a myriad of work options in every region of our state with many more coming online every week.
The programs that will end are:
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation which provides a $300 weekly add-on to recipients of unemployment insurance
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation which provides recipients extended benefits after their traditional 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits have been exhausted
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which provides benefits to individuals who do not normally qualify for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed, gig workers, and independent contractors
- Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation which provides a $100 additional weekly benefit for individuals who are eligible for regular unemployment benefits but also earned at least $5,000 in self-employment income
Indianas unemployment rate, which jumped to more than 17 percent at the height of the pandemic, has recovered to 3.9 percent.
Holcomb said that there are about 116,000 available jobs in the state that need filled now. He pointed to recent jobs announcements from companies like Amazon, Apple, Toyota, and Milwaukee Tool.
On May 11th, Gov. Holcomb signed an executive order to reinstate requirements that Hoosiers who are requesting unemployment benefits be actively seeking full-time work beginning on June 1. Work search activities include applying for a job, attending a job fair, participating in WorkOne orientation, or completing an online workshop.
More information may be found at https://www.in.gov/dwd/indiana-unemployment/individuals/work-search/