PHOENIX — ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has hired a firm to process the jobless claims of those who qualify only for special federal aid, including part-timers, independent contractors and others ineligible for the regular state unemployment benefit.
But it will take weeks before their checks are in the mail — putting ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ behind at least 10 other states already making the federal payments.
The state has to construct such a system from scratch, said Department of Economic Services officials. It won’t be launched until the week of May 12. At that point, payments will begin, along with retroactive benefits.
The DES announced Friday that it has contracted with Geographic Solutions to set up a pandemic unemployment assistance program for the state.
The move comes nearly a month after Congress approved the Coronovirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. One provision of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package creates this new pandemic unemployment assistance program, with its benefits of $600 a week.
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The DES is already providing the additional federal cash to unemployed people who are eligible for the regular state benefits of up to $240 a week.
But the federal law also provides the $600 benefit for those who don’t qualify under the state program. And that required the DES to develop an entirely new system.
There was no way to simply piggyback it on to the current computer programs that handle the state benefits, said Michael Wisehart, DES deputy director of employment and relief services.
There are entirely different eligibility criteria, he said.
For example, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has financial requirements to have earned enough money in the past four calendar quarters. Those include having worked the equivalent of at least 30 hours a week at minimum wage for one of those quarters.
Also ineligible for the state program are those who have been self-employed, including workers in the gig economy and independent contractors. And those seeking only part-time work or those who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state benefits also do not qualify.
Deciding on a new system was necessary, and DES Director Tom Betlach said it made more sense to contract that out rather than do it in-house.
“When you get some of these older systems, doing the programming and making the time to do that just becomes too expensive an exercise,†he said.
There’s also the fact that the current staff is busy trying to deal with the nearly 420,000 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ns who have sought first-time unemployment benefits since Gov. Doug Ducey shuttered many “nonessential†businesses and issued a directive for residents to stay home as much as possible.
The U.S. Labor Department says 10 states already have implemented their programs and started making payments, CNBC reports. It also says the National Employment Law Project found another three states that have initiated pandemic unemployment assistance payments, with two more in the process of launching.
Wisehart, however, said there are reasons that some states, such as Texas, are further along.
“The advantage that a state like Texas has — it’s an unfortunate advantage — is Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Katrina,†he said.
“They’ve had disasters in the past,†Wisehart said, meaning they also had systems set up to handle emergency unemployment benefits.
“They’re able to repurpose infrastructure available to them having had those disasters,†he said. “They are able to be a little bit farther along in this cycle than we are.â€
Things are different here, Wisehart said.
“ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is unique in that we haven’t had a disaster of this magnitude in the past,†he said. “And so we’re needing to stand this up more from scratch.â€
One immediate issue is there are people who applied for unemployment benefits after the virus and its economic effects hit, but were simply turned down because they didn’t meet the state eligibility standards, like the work requirements, Wisehart said.
Now, he said, the DES will go back and work with those people to reconstruct their application and see if they are entitled to retroactive $600-a-week payments under the pandemic unemployment assistance program.
Wisehart said the federal program creates new hurdles for the state in determining eligibility.
Take, for example, someone who has been self-employed or is a contract worker.
He said the DES will get whatever documents are available. But some of what the department will be relying on is the sworn statement of the applicant. To the extent possible, the DES will compare those statements with available data sources.
“We’re working with our federal partners and other state partners to figure out best practices in getting that information and making sure that people understand their responsibilities in reporting to us, and ferreting out any fraud that we can,†Wisehart said.
The ultimate fallback may come at some future point when new documents become available and the state can determine if people have made fraudulent claims, he said.
In that case, “they’re going to have to pay those benefits back.â€
The governor’s order shutting down parts of the economy expires at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Ducey has said he is still studying data on the spread of the virus before making any decision whether to lift the restrictions in whole or in part, or extend them.
At last count, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has logged 6,045 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 266 known deaths, including 17 reported just on Friday. Two hundred of the deaths were among those 65 and older.
Photos for April 23: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Erika Munoz, owner of Seis Kitchen, hands over a bag of meals to Michael Gallagher Carondelet, a registered nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital, to distribute to other nurses and hospital workers, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's “Project Frontline.†In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Hospital workers wheel in carts full of catered meals donated by Seis Kitchen to Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital, on April 23, 2020. The donation was made in conjunction with A+C (Athletes/Artists+Causes) Foundation's “Project Frontline.†In two deliveries, 400 meals (200 poc chuck chicken and 200 puerco verde burritos) will be given to medical personnel at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. The particular donation was made possible by the Houston Astros' Pitching Coach Brent Strom, who lives in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Kristi Hall, a sixth grade teacher at Desert Sky Middle School, participates in planning a lesson with a fellow teacher on Zoom, at her home on April 17, 2020. Schools in the Vail School District are supposed to open in July due to their year-round school calendar. Plans are being made for the possibility of students returning to the physical classroom.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Bry Kelley, a warehouse assistant, places a pallet filled with food down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

A pallet of food is placed down next to other items donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on on April 21, 2020. Forty-one thousand pounds of flour, pasta and canned goods were donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is part of an ongoing global effort by the church to address immediate needs of people and orgainzations due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Christian Bergman, 4th year University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ medical student, takes the temperature of a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. “This is a vulnerable population in our community; they can’t defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,†said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Lekha Chesnick, 1st year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, talks with a homeless man (whom choose to not give his name) outside of the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Christian Bergman, 4th year University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ medical student, checks on a patient outside the Z Mansion, 288 N. Church Ave., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 19, 2020. Medical students from the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and other universities volunteer to help the homeless population with the growing concerns of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) within the homeless population. “This is a vulnerable population in our community; they can’t defend themselves in a society already running short on supplies and resources,†said Bergman. Medical students and medical personal help by giving out food, drinks with electrolytes and masks to the homeless. Those who are sick, medically impaired or have been exposed to those with COVID-19 are isolated outdoors in tents on the property. As of Sunday April 19, there were 13 individuals whom are isolated in tents.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Elliott Dumont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., works on a customer's bike on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Elliot DuMont, owner of Roadrunner Bicycles, 6177 E. Broadway Blvd., far left, helps Ethan Sasz, far right, and his son, Evan, 10, with a mountain bike purchase on April 22, 2020. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has not slowed down bike shops. With many people at home, they are bringing bicycles for repairs and buying new ones for exercise. Dumont says he's booked out till the first week of May for tuneups on bikes.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Marcella Montoya waits in her vehicle as general manger David Kessler brings out her order, as Bear Canyon Pizza serving their customers despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Kitchen manger Koa Hoffmann tosses dough while working up a crust for a call-in order as he and few others keep cooking at Bear Canyon Pizza despite COVID-19 restrictions, April 22, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Alvaro Enciso, a local artist, works in one of his studios at his home on April 9, 2020. Every Tuesday Enciso travels into the Sonoran desert to post crosses where migrants have died after crossing illegally over the U.S./Mexico border as part of a project he's titled Donde Mueren Los Suenos / Where Dreams Die. With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease his six year project is on hold and instead he works on other artwork at home.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, coronavirus

Dolly Spalding works on a pen and ink drawing in her apartment at the Redondo Tower Apartments on April 7, 2020. During her quarantine, Spalding has been creating drawings of all the Greek goddesses. She is collaborating with Emlyn Boyle, an artist from Ireland, and plans to publish a book with Boyle's writings.