LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an executive order to help expand unemployment benefits to workers affected by coronavirus matters.
Monday, Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-10, which takes effect immediately and will last until April 14.
As written under the new unemployment guidelines, workers will qualify if they meet the following criteria:
- Workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved ones who become ill.
- Workers who are sick, quarantined, or immunocompromised and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.
- First responders in the public health community who become ill or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.
Additionally, the order makes the following provisions:
- Benefits will be increased from 20 to 26 weeks.
- The application eligibility period will be increased from 14 to 28 days
- The normal in-person registration and work search requirements will be suspended.
- an employer or employing unit must not be charged for unemployment benefits if their employees become unemployed because of an executive order requiring them to close or limit operations.
- The unemployment insurance agency 3 may approve a shared-work plan, regardless of whether the employer’s reserve in the employer’s experience account as of the most recent computation date preceding the date of the employer’s application is a positive number.
“While we work together to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, we must do everything we can to help working families,” Whitmer said. “This executive order will provide immediate relief to those who can’t go to work, and who rely on their paycheck to put food on the table for themselves and their families. I urge everyone to make smart choices at this time, and to do everything in their power to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.”
More information on how to apply for unemployment due to the coronavirus can be found online at this link. A fact sheet can also be viewed here.
“We know that many families are and will experience economic pain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeff Donofrio, Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Our expansion of unemployment and workers’ compensation benefits is designed to help provide emergency support to Michigan’s working families.”
In addition to providing new benefits for unemployed workers, Whitmer is actively working to help small businesses in the state. She is seeking an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for the state through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which currently has $1 Billion of relief funding available.
Meanwhile, Whitmer is asking President Trump to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for additional help through FEMA.
The news of this executive order comes just after Whitmer ordered a state-mandated shutdown of all restaurants, bars and other gathering areas in Michigan.
Some services are still available through these establishments, such as delivery and carry-out. More information can be found at this link.
All updated information can be found online at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
