The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission announced a program that will provide up to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits.
The State Extended Benefits (SEB) program will give up to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to people making regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims.
Officials said for Oklahomans to received SEB they must first use up their regular UI and the CARES Act extension PEUC benefits. SEB is only for people making regular Unemployment Insurance claims. People making claims for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are not eligible for SEB.
Since Oklahoma employers pay into the State's Unemployment Trust Fund, which pays people who receive regular UI benefits, the SEB program is not available for people who are self-employed, contract, and gig workers who use the PUA program, said officials.
This extraordinary time has triggered this benefit for the first time in almost 40 years. The pandemic has caused continued unemployment for many Oklahomans above and beyond what is traditionally outlined by the Oklahoma Employment Security Act. We will continue to work with claimants to ensure they’re able to access benefits and answer any questions.
Officials said some people may not receive all 13 weeks of benefits because the SEB program is based on the "lesser of three calculations."
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