The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission is now accepting pre-applications from gig workers and others unable to work during the COVID-19 pandemic who don't qualify for traditional unemployment benefits.
Federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits are intended for gig workers, independent contractors, other self-employed individuals and workers whose regular unemployment benefits have expired and were laid off, furloughed or are otherwise out of work due to the pandemic.
"We want people to register and complete the pre-application process even though Oklahoma is not yet authorized to begin paying these benefits," OESC Executive Director Robin Roberson said in a news release. "This is an important first-step in being able to receive this relief as quickly as possible when the state is ready to begin processing these claims."
Funding for PUA is still pending. All payments will be backdated to the date the job loss or business closure occurred.
Approved applicants will also receive the $600 additional weekly benefit through the week ending July 25, 2020.
Applicants may begin the process online at https://ui.ok.gov.
