In its weekly report, the Delaware Department of Labor reported that nearly $600 million in jobless benefits have been paid out during the coronavirus pandemic.
The payments included $47.6 million in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments. The program covers the self-employed who were not part of the state-federal unemployment insurance system. Verifying claims has taken time, since the potential for fraud is great, according to labor officials.
PUA operates on a separate system than unemployment insurance. Setting up that system led to further delays in issuing benefits About two-thirds of all claims have been paid. The program, which expires at the end of the month.
The state Labor Department report listed the following:
- 117,439 UI claims filed from 3/15 – 7/4/2020
- 2,791 Initial claims received from 6/28 – 7/4/2020
- Total benefits paid from 3/15 – 7/4/2020
- Total benefits of $531,386,090 in UI benefits paid
- $401,515,179 paid from Federal Government ($600 a week) and $128,948,159 paid from Delaware UI Trust Fund. ($400 a week maximum).
- 9,355 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed since 5/16/2020
- 5,969 PUA claims paid since 5/16/2020
- $47,662,297 in PUA benefits paid
The WalletHub financial advice website reported that Delaware remains in the middle of the pack in the decline of unemployment claims. Neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey have seen a bigger drop in claims. Maryland ranks toward the bottom, although it has a much lower unemployment rate than Delaware.
To find out how each state ranks, click on the map below. The map may not work with mobile devices. Click here to read the full report and view the rankings.
