Current Unemployment Program

The content of this page was last updated on April 14, 2023.

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

Up to 16 Weeks

Filing for Unemployment Insurance (UI) is the first step for affected workers. It is available for up to 16 weeks.
Previous availability of up to 26 weeks ended Sept. 5, 2021.

The following programs were available during the Pandemic and are no longer available to apply for.

Expired 9/4/2021

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is a federal extension of benefits for those who have exhausted UI.
The ARP extension increased PEUC weekly benefits from 24 weeks to 53 weeks, through week ending Sept. 4, 2021.
This program expired on Sept. 4, 2021.

Expired 9/4/2021

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) expanded access to unemployment by including those who are affected by COVID-19 and not eligible for UI or PEUC (such as self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, employees of religious organizations and those who lack sufficient work history or have been disqualified for state benefits).
This program expired on Sept. 4, 2021. Claimants could file an initial PUA claim for 30 days after the program ended. This meant a claimant had until Oct. 6, 2021 to file an initial PUA claim. Initial PUA claims filed after Dec. 27, 2020 may be backdated no earlier than the week ending Dec. 6, 2020. The last payable week of PUA was the week ending Sept. 4, 2021.

Expired 9/4/2021

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) provideed a $300 per week benefit for any claimant that is eligible for an underlying unemployment compensation program. No application was necessary.
Previously FPUC was available from Mar. 29, 2020 through July 25, 2020 and payments were for $600, but this extension only provided $300 weekly benefits.
This program expired on Sept. 4, 2021.

Expired 9/4/2021

Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) was only available for the payable week ending Jan. 2, 2021 through the week ending Sept. 4, 2021.
This program will require claimants to apply for the MEUC program and submit documentation before KDOL can determine that an individual is eligible for any weeks in which the program is in effect. Individuals must complete the online application and provide supporting documentation. The application process will not move forward until the supporting documentation is uploaded. Failure to submit a completed application with the required supporting documentation will result in a denial of MEUC benefits.
Claimants must be eligible to receive at least one dollar ($1) of underlying unemployment benefits for the week claimed. This includes regular UI benefits, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Shared Work of Trade Act Readjustment Assistance (TRA). Based on federal guidelines, MEUC is NOT available for weeks you received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
Claimants must have received at least $5,000 of self-employment income (net earnings) in the most recent taxable year ending prior to their application for regular UI.

Expired 9/5/20

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) was funded by FEMA to provide $300 per week to supplement unemployment benefits to eligible claimants. It was available for any claims for the weeks ending Aug. 1, 2020, through Sept. 5, 2020 (payments will be retroactive).