More than 18,000 Alabamians filed initial jobless claims last week, slightly more than had filed claims the week prior and a signal that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the state’s workforce.
During the week of June 14 through June 20 18,671 people filed initial claims, and 11,311 of them were COVID-19 related, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. That was 304 more than had filed the previous week. So far this month, 56,988 filed initial jobless claims.
Jefferson County had the largest number of claims, with 2,815, followed by Mobile County with 2,058 and Montgomery County with 1,439.
A majority of claims, or 6,284, were classified as “industry not available,” followed by administrative and support services with 1,738 claims, fast food and drinking places with 1,515 claims, transportation equipment manufacturing with 859, general merchandise stores with 539 and education services with 397.
Beginning July 5, the Alabama Department of Labor will start automatically redetermining eligibility for some of those who’ve filed regular unemployment claims, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Claimants whose benefit year ends prior to July 5, 2020, will have their claims reevaluated.
“Some may remain eligible for PUA or PEUC, or they may change to regular unemployment compensation. Weekly benefit amounts may also change. This depends on eligibility requirements,” according to the department.
“Claimants must continue to certify their weeks. Many claimants are not receiving benefits because they fail to file their weekly certifications (request for payment). ADOL cannot pay benefits for weeks which have not been properly certified. Certifications can be done online at www.labor.alabama.gov or by calling the appropriate number listed below:
- Montgomery — (334) 954-4094
- Birmingham — (205) 458-2282
- Not in Local Area — (800) 752-7389
PUA recipients MUST file their weekly certifications either by telephone or on the PUA app, at https://pua.labor.alabama.gov.
