FOR COVID-19 RESPONSE INFORMATION >
INDIVIDUALS: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SERVICES >
EMPLOYERS: RESTART MS - REHIRES, WORK REFUSALS, OR FRAUDULENT CLAIMS >
I Need A Job
Job Searching Resources
Senior Employment Program
Governor's Job Fair Network
I Need a Job - Home
Not Sure where to go? Try looking through our FAQs here.
Search for Employees
File and/or Pay Unemployment Tax
E-Response
Tax Credits, UI Services & Appeals
QuickAccess
Report Separation or Refusal of Work
MS 1st Employment Plans - BP Oil Spill
Employers - Home
Online Unemployment Services
File Weekly Certification
Lost Wages Assistance Certification
Claims Information
UI Claim Contacts / Phones
Unemployment Claims - Home
File a Claim Online
Eligible Training Provider List System
About MDES
Fraud and Integrity
Local Workforce Development Areas
Information Center - Home
View Labor Statistics
Mississippi Approved for Lost Wages Assistance Program for Unemployed Mississippians
Jackson, MS ---
Today Governor Tate Reeves and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) announced that Mississippi's application for a Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) grant under the Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWA) has been approved.
FEMA Administrator, Pete Gaynor approved Mississippi for a FEMA grant under the LWA program and Jacqueline Turner, Executive Director for MDES, signed the acceptance award August 23, 2020.
On August 8, 2020, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum making grant funding available to states and territories through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5174 (the "Stafford Act"). The memorandum enables electing states to offer additional "Lost Wages Assistance" to eligible unemployed workers receiving unemployment benefits.
Benefits will be available for weeks of unemployment beginning the week ending August 1, 2020, through weeks of unemployment ending no later than December 27, 2020, or when the balance in FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) reaches $25 billion, or when the $44 billion from the DRF designated for LWA is exhausted, or when the state matching funds have been exhausted, whichever occurs first. Conversely, funding for these benefits would also terminate upon enactment of legislation providing, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, supplemental Federal unemployment compensation, or similar compensation, for unemployed or underemployed individuals.
Mississippians who are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19 and are currently
receiving a weekly unemployment benefit amount of $100 or more from one of the following programs will be eligible to receive an additional $300 a week in the LWA FEMA program:
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE)
Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)
Extended Benefits (EB)
Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA)
Self-Employment Assistance (SEA)
MDES will implement the program and funds will be available within three to four weeks.
Claimants do not need to file a separate application to receive LWA. MDES will make the LWA payments in the same manner as any payment from one of the above-listed programs payable for the week involved for all participating claimants. The $300 LWA payment is subject to both federal and state income taxes.
To learn more about Mississippi Unemployment Benefits and for additional updates and information about unemployment assistance programs in MS, visit our website at www.mdes.ms.gov.
Click here to view the FEMA LWA Supplemental Payment Assistance FAQ's.
Click here for more information from FEMA about the LWA Supplemental Payment Assistance Program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lost Wages Assistance
Mississippi Department of Employment Security Announces Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation
Mississippi Department of Employment Security Announces Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers
Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Six Counties in Mississippi
An equal opportunity employer and program, MDES has auxiliary aids and services available upon request to those with disabilities. Those needing TTY assistance may call 800-582-2233. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor through the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.
®2013-2020 Mississippi Department of Employment Security
Transparency.ms Privacy & Security Accessibility Internal Security Site Map
Return to top.