Thousands of Utahns have financially felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have felt it as their work hours have been reduced or temporarily laid off. To help individuals make it through these difficult times, resources are available with the Department of Workforce Services.
Through the department, individuals can apply for unemployment insurance benefits. These benefits are not meant to be a full wage replacement, but provide 40-50 percent of earned wages up to $580 weekly. Additional financial resources will soon be available from the federal government through the CARES Act, pending guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. Individuals should apply online. Due to the unprecedented volume of claims there are disruptions in the department’s normal service levels including high call and chat wait times. If there is a question or problem with your claim, they will contact you.
At Workforce Services, you can also apply for additional assistance such as food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, HEAT and child care subsidies. If you are looking for employment, there are still jobs available. Workforce Services’ website includes job listings and search help or you can download the Utah Jobs mobile app.
We encourage all whose employment has been negatively affected by COVID-19 to visit jobs.utah.gov/covid19 to access a full list of available resources as well as more information in regularly updated FAQs.