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More unemployed Mississippians eligible for benefits under new program

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MS employment image MDES
(Image from Mississippi Department of Employment Security)

Up until now, many Mississippians out of work because of the COVID-19 crisis were ineligible for unemployment benefits.

That includes people who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers and those employed by churches.

That’s all changing because of a new program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA.

PUA is intended to help people who are unemployed or working reduced hours due to COVID-19 and are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits.

You may be eligible for PUA if you are:

  • Self-employed or an independent contractor
  • Employed by a church, religious entity or non-profit organization
  • Employed in the gig economy
  • Have insufficient earnings to establish a regular unemployment claim
  • Not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits

For more information and to register for unemployment benefits, visit the Mississippi Department of Employment Security website, or call 1-833-919-0334 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days a week.

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