Gov. Tate Reeves extends unemployment benefits to help workers impacted by COVID-19

May 11, 2020

Gov. Tate Reeves signed a new executive order updating instruction to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

The order will replace the first unemployment order, which helped to speed up payments to unemployed workers.

In this latest executive order, Governor Reeves waived the one-week waiting period to receive unemployment benefits for all claims filed from March 8, 2020 to December 26, 2020. Under the initial Executive Order No. 1462, the waiting period was waived until June 27.

Further extending financial support of Mississippians out of work due to COVID-19, the Governor is increasing the $40 earning allowance to $200 from May 3, 2020 until June 27, 2020.

Supporting employers struggling under the weight of COVID-19, Governor Reeves has also waived any interest from April 1, 2020 to June 27, 2020 on all collection activities suspended under the Executive Order. The offset of future benefits due to overpayments will be reduced to 25% from March 29, 2020 until June 27, 2020.

Additional updates under Executive Order No. 1481 to support Mississippi’s employers and workforce include:

For employers:

Any charges related to COVID-19 and associated charges to both rated and reimbursable employers’ accounts are waived from March 8, 2020 to June 27, 2020. Interest will not be accrued during this period.
The First Quarter 2020 pay date imposed for contributions of both rated and reimbursable employers has been suspended and moved to July 31, 2020.
Penalties for late reporting and contribution payments from March 8, 2020 to July 31, 2020 are suspended.

For workers:

Those unable to search for work because of COVID-19, including because they have contracted the virus, have been under quarantine, or have had their movements restricted, will be interpreted as such for claims filed between March 8, 2020 to June 27, 2020.
Work registration requirements from March 8, 2020 to June 27, 2020 are suspended, and individuals are not required to report in-person to help limit transmission.

You can view the text version of the Executive Order No. 1481 here.