“Today’s leadership opens the door to relief for workers faced with difficult, if not impossible choices, between accepting work in an unsafe workplace to receive a steady source of income, and protecting their health. and those of their loved ones, “said Patricia Smith. , senior adviser to the Labor Secretary.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program is already available to those who are unable to work because, among other things, they have a health condition that puts them at risk or because their children’s schools have been closed. But prior guidance issued under the Trump administration has left some room for states to stop offering benefits to those who have refused jobs because of concerns about coronavirus safety.
The new rules allow plaintiffs to qualify by themselves confirming that the work offered does not meet Covid-related safety standards, such as wearing a mask, physical distance or providing personal protective equipment.
The guideline also increases the allowance for unemployment benefits to workers who have been made redundant or whose working hours have been reduced as a result of the pandemic, and to school workers who work without a contract or insurance of continued employment, stare. schools were closed due to the outbreak.
And it enables those who quit their jobs to look after their children, to continue to be eligible for benefits after schools reopen.
The agency, which does not know how many people could be affected by the action, said it expects the states to implement the new rules only in early March. Benefits are paid retrospectively.
Addressing benefit fraud
The agency said it would work more closely with the states and offer more money to combat the scams.
“We have taken a state-by-state approach so far and that is not enough,” said Suzi Levine, chief deputy assistant secretary, who had to deal with the explosion of fraud over the past year as head of the Washington Unemployment Agency . “We need a national approach to help work in partnership with the states.”
States were expected to apply identity verification procedures as part of the December bill passed by Congress, she said.
But the “sophisticated criminal attack on our unemployment system” should not prevent those who qualify legally from receiving benefits, Levine said.
“It would be a mistake to ignore those most in need because of the actions of criminals, who have already delayed access to benefits for too many people struggling with job losses,” she said.