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The State of Unemployment Benefits: A State-by-State Rundown

The State of Unemployment Benefits: A State-by-State Rundown

By Lindsey Danis

The spread of coronavirus through all 50 states has created unprecedented challenges for restaurants. Rare is the state where it's business as usual. To protect public health, a majority of states and municipalities have placed restrictions on operation, including capping the number of people that can be in any one facility. Restaurants in several states, including Indiana, Michigan, New York, Washington, and West Virginia, have limited business to take-out and delivery only.

These forced closings strain an industry already facing challenges. Operators have had to reduce employee hours and lay off workers. From March 8 to March 14, 281,000 Americans filed for unemployment in what's sure to be the first wave of coronavirus-related unemployment claims.

The good news is, states have stepped up to support restaurant workers who are facing multiple challenges: lost hours, lost income, the inability to go to work, or the need to stay home and care for children amid state-mandated closure of schools.

This state-by-state guide is intended as a resource to help restaurant employees access resources to offset the financial burden of losing work for an uncertain amount of time. All information is up to date as of 3/20, but the situation is changing day by day.

Employees who intend to file for unemployment benefits should do so online, if possible. Phone applications are the next best option, but applying over the phone can jam up the phone lines and some workers have complained of not getting through.

Whether you apply by phone or online, the volume of applicants is unprecedented, and most states are overwhelmed as a result. If you are unable to get through or experience long wait times, keep trying until you're able to make a claim.

These uncertain days will pass, and workers will be rehired when restaurants are up and running. In the meantime, here's what workers need to know.

Alabama

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.

Alaska

  • Alaska's House of Representatives has passed a bill that relaxes restrictions on unemployment benefits, and the bill is now under consideration by the Senate.
  • The proposed legislation waives a one-week waiting period before individuals can file for unemployment and increases payments to those who are caretakers or have dependents.

Arizona

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or are temporarily unemployed as a result of the coronavirus may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • A Phoenix-based non-profit Another Round, is providing $500 to unemployed restaurant workers who apply on their website with a pay stub.

Arkansas

  • Restaurant workers who are employed by a business that has shut down due to the pandemic may apply for unemployment benefits.
  • Arkansas's governor has waived the one-week waiting period before individuals can file for unemployment.

California

  • Restaurant workers who are sick or in quarantine may apply for Disability Insurance.
  • Workers who are caring for an ill or quarantined family member may apply for Paid Family Leave.
  • Workers who are not currently working in order to provide childcare due to mandatory school closures, or who were laid off, lost hours, or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may apply for unemployment benefits.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

Colorado

  • Restaurant workers with symptoms of coronavirus can receive up to four days of paid sick leave while waiting for test results.
  • Restaurant workers who've lost some or all of their hours, or were laid off due to the pandemic may apply for unemployment benefits.

Connecticut

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Workers who are taking care of an ill family member but who are themselves healthy and able to work may receive benefits.
  • All decisions are made on a case by case basis.
  • The Connecticut Department of Labor offers a live chat option for individuals with questions about unemployment claims related to the coronavirus as http://filectui.com

Delaware

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Individuals who are in self-quarantine or caring for ill family members are considered temporarily unemployed and may file for unemployment.
  • Delaware has waived the one-week waiting period for unemployment applications.

Florida

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time. Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Georgia

  • Restaurant operators who've reduced work hours for employees as a result of the pandemic must file partial unemployment claims on behalf of their employees.

Hawaii

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Idaho

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of their workplace may be eligible for unemployment benefits, as long as they are able to seek work or expect to resume their position within 16 weeks.
  • As of 3/20, Idaho has not waived its one-week waiting period.

Illinois

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Individuals who are in self-quarantine, caring for ill family members, or providing childcare in the wake of school closures are considered temporarily unemployed and may file for unemployment.

Indiana

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Iowa

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Employees who are in self-quarantine may be eligible for unemployment if employers will not offer paid time off and no other benefits (such as sick leave, paid time off, or Family & Medical Leave Act) cover the 14-day quarantine period.

Kansas

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.

Kentucky

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.
  • Applicants should note that Kentucky requires employees to file for unemployment on a specific day of the week, based on the first letter of their last name.

Louisiana

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants, or who were told not to report to work and are not being paid may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.

Maine

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Restaurant workers who are quarantined or taking care of a dependent who is ill may also qualify for unemployment benefits.

Maryland

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Restaurant workers who are quarantined should use paid time off or paid sick leave.
  • Workers who are quarantined with no paid sick leave or taking care of an ill family member may be eligible for unemployment benefits, although the Department of Labor makes decisions on a case by case basis.

Massachusetts

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.
  • Workers who are quarantined or taking care of an ill family member may be eligible for unemployment benefits as well.
  • Emergency legislation to waive the one-week waiting period is pending.

Michigan

  • Workers who are sick, quarantined, immunocompromised, taking care of an ill family member, or were laid off as a result of the coronavirus are eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

Minnesota

  • Restaurant workers who are in self quarantine, ordered not to work due to the coronavirus, or are not currently working to provide childcare due to mandatory school closures are eligible for benefits.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

Mississippi

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Missouri

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or who are unable to work due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible for unemployment benefits and are encouraged to apply.

Montana

  • Restaurant workers who lost their jobs due to temporary closure of restaurants or who were sent home from work due to pandemic concerns are eligible for unemployment under an emergency law passed to address the coronavirus outbreak.
  • Workers who are sick with Covid-19 cannot receive unemployment, but are eligible for sick leave.
  • Workers who are immunocompromised and in self-quarantine or who are unable to work while caring for ill family members may receive unemployment.

Nebraska

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

Nevada

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

New Hampshire

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • Applicants should note that New Hampshire requires employees to file for unemployment on a specific day time block based on the first letter of their last name.

New Jersey

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • Restaurant workers who are taking care of ill family members, providing childcare in the wake of school closures, or in self quarantine can use earned sick leave.
  • If earned sick leave is exhausted and individuals cannot return to work, they may file for unemployment.

New Mexico

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • Workers in self quarantine are also eligible for benefits.

New York

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • Applicants should note that New York requires employees to file for unemployment on a specific day of the week based on the first letter of their last name.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

North Carolina

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

North Dakota

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Ohio

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off, lost hours, or are unemployed due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment and are encouraged to apply.
  • Workers who are required to quarantine by a doctor or employer are also eligible for unemployment benefits.

Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma's governor plans to remove the one-week waiting period before individuals can file for unemployment.
  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.

Oregon

  • Restaurant workers who are mildly ill with Covid-19, caring for children due to school closures, caring for ill relatives, immunocompromised and in self-quarantine, quarantined after exposure to the coronavirus, or practicing self-distancing out of fear of exposure are eligible for unemployment and (with the exception of self-distancing) paid sick leave.
  • Workers who have been laid off, lost hours, or unable to work because their employer temporarily closes are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Pennsylvania

  • Restaurant workers who are laid off, lost hours, or unable to work because their employer temporarily closes or goes out of business are eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Workers who were told not to work due to Covid-19, told to quarantine, are self-quarantining, or are under government-required orders to stay at home should apply for unemployment benefits as well.

Rhode Island

  • Restaurant workers who are unable to work, but whose employer remains open, may be eligible for Temporary Disability Insurance.
  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or lost their jobs due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive unemployment benefits.
  • Workers who are taking care of ill family members should use paid or unpaid sick leave.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.

South Carolina

  • Restaurant workers who are laid off, lost hours, or unable to work because their employer temporarily closes or goes out of business may be eligible for unemployment benefits.

South Dakota

  • Restaurant workers who were laid off or lost their jobs due to temporary closure of restaurants may be eligible to receive reemployment assistance, although the Department of Labor and Regulation makes decisions on a case by case basis.

Tennessee

  • Restaurant workers who are quarantined or lost their jobs due to temporary closure of restaurants are eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may provide $1,000 for families of five with job loss related to the pandemic.

Texas

  • There are no special benefits for restaurant workers at this time.
  • Individuals who have lost their job may apply for unemployment benefits.

Utah

  • Restaurant workers who are quarantined and will return to work or whose employer temporarily closed as a result of the coronavirus are eligible for unemployment and are encouraged to apply.

Vermont

  • Restaurant workers who are laid off, lost hours, or unable to work because their employer temporarily closed may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Workers who are in self quarantine and do not have paid sick leave may be eligible for unemployment.

Virginia

  • Restaurant workers who have been laid off from their job due to the coronavirus are eligible for unemployment, as are workers who have had their hours reduced.
  • The one-week waiting period has been waived.
  • Applicants should note the Virginia Employment Commission will not process any coronavirus-related unemployment claims unless the employee can demonstrate an actual layoff or reduction of hours.

Washington

  • Restaurant workers who are "mildly ill" with Covid-19, in quarantine while their employer remains open, immunocompromised and self-quarantined, laid off, experiencing a reduction in hours, or unable to work because their employer temporarily closed are eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Workers who are mildly or severely ill with Covid-19, caring for sick family members, quarantined after exposure to Covid-19, or providing childcare in the wake of school closures may receive paid sick leave.

West Virginia

  • Restaurant workers who are laid off, had their hours reduced, or cannot work due to Covid-19 related illnesses or disease control measures meant to slow the epidemic are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Wisconsin

  • Restaurant workers who are laid off or unable to work because their employer temporarily closed may be eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • Workers who become ill with Covid-19 or are in self-quarantine are not eligible for unemployment.

Wyoming

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