Unemployment in Mississippi and Covid-19

UPDATE on MDES and UNEMPLOYMENT Filing

If you are a Mississippi resident/employee/self-employed individual and have been laid off or suffered work loss due to COVID-19, you qualify for unemployment benefits. In addition to the MS unemployment benefit of $235 (max amount), the Federal Government is adding $600 to the benefit amount for a period of 4 months.



Based on the Federal law passed Friday morning and Governor Reeves Memorandum of Understanding executed last week, unemployment benefits will see an expansion in Mississippi of covered individuals (to include many self- employed, part time employees and workers who do not have enough credits to qualify). The guidance for filing is still the same, but alternative options have been added with a PDF fillable form (link at the bottom of this post). Call centers will be expanded from 7am to 10pm (7 days a week) beginning on Monday to help process claims and issues.

Much of the changes will be directed by the United States Department of Labor. The Department of Labor will give guidance to our Department of Employment Security in the coming days on eligibility and computation of benefits. The key now is that if you qualify for benefits, that you file and that the benefits for eligible claims will be back dated to your date of separation even if the application process is delayed.



Ways to File your Unemployment Claim:

·      File online during off peak hours (10pm-5am) Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day mdes.ms.gov

·     ·Call Center # 888-844-3577 (7am-10pm), 7 days a week (beginning Monday 3/30/20)

·     ·Downloadable Form: https://mdes.ms.gov/media/178819/ui-501_form_web.pdf Once you have completed the form, please email it to: UIClaims@mdes.ms.gov or to your local WIN Job Center

·      DeSoto County Job Center DeSotocountyjobcenter@mdes.ms.gov 662-280-6218