New jobless filings decline, but ongoing claims steady
Initial claims for unemployment benefits in Arizona declined for a fifth straight week as more businesses cautiously re-opened following coronavirus-related shutdowns, but an elevated volume of ongoing claims underscore continuing economic weakness.
Some 32,938 Arizonans filed for initial jobless-insurance benefits for the week ended May 9, the Department of Economic Security reported. That was down from 42,955 for the week ending May 2 and well below the peak week ending April 4, when 132,382 people filed for initial claims.
However, these figures don’t fully reflect the economic devastation caused by the virus and measures to contain it by closing businesses, reducing crowds and cancelling events. The number of Arizonans who continue to receive ongoing unemployment-insurance benefits totaled 293,424 over the latest week. That was a new record and marked an increase from 218,541 for the week ended May 2.
The department on Monday launched a program that will pay $350 million in initial jobless benefits to 165,000 independent contractors and other individuals who were previously ineligible for benefits. This new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program allows many independent contractors, self-employed individuals and other gig-economy workers to receive benefits.
However, the agency said it was having problems getting payments out. In particular, many prior applicants hadn’t received $600 in weekly federal benefits, though some did get state benefits that top out at $240 a week.
The payment problems are not tied to the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, the department said.
An update posted on the state’s unemployment-insurance website, azui.com, said jobless individuals who were paid between May 7 and 11 didn’t receive the additional $600 weekly benefit under the Pandemic program designed to help those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19.
“Our staff worked to correct this error as quickly as possible,” the department said in the update. “Claimants can expect to receive the missed payments between Wednesday and Friday of this week.”