Workforce Essentials

Tennessee experiences the second consecutive decrease in the number of new unemployment claims filed. The total for the week ending April 18 is 68,968. The total of new claims filed during the last five weeks is now nearly 393,500. DETAILS: bit.ly/34YqnxB

There's a new Q&A for self-employed individuals regarding wage protests. You do not need to file one. All the details are on the Questions and Answers page. LINK: bit.ly/3cHFQ7I

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims are currently processing. Eligible claimants should begin to see their benefit payments deposited into their accounts next week.

MONDAY CERTIFICATIONS open for the Social Security numbers with the last digits of 4, 5, and 6. teapawt.net/Jobs4_TN/status/125220…

STARTING SUNDAY: Due to the spike in unemployment claims, claimants now need to certify by the last digit in their social security number. SUNDAY - 0,1, 2, 3 MONDAY - 4, 5, 6 TUESDAY - 7, 8, 9 WED-SAT - ALL NUMBERS Your new payment date will be 48-72 hours after you certify.

ALERT: Jobs4TN.gov will be offline from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. CT, Monday, 4/13, in order to process this week's approved payments. Please check back after 1 p.m. CT to complete weekly certifications or to apply for benefits. We apologize for any inconvenience.

THIS JUST IN: For the week ending April 4, 2020, Tennesseans filed 112,438 new claims for unemployment. Over the last three weeks, the state has received nearly a quarter of a million unemployment claims. In a typical three-week period, it receives fewer than 10,000 new claims.

We've added more agents and extended hours at our call centers. We are doing everything we possibly can to meet this unprecedented demand created by #COVID-19. We truly appreciate your patience during this difficult time in our state.

UPDATE: If you are self-employed or a contract worker in TN, you should apply for unemployment now, despite showing no wages. As soon as the federal government provides guidance on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, TN will start processing those claims and paying benefits.

Q. I am out of work because my employer closed because of #COVID-19. What do I mark as my reason for not working? A. If your employer closed or reduced hours due to COVID-19 you may select “lack of work”. MORE DETAILS: tn.gov/workforce

For Employer COVID-19 unemployment information please visit: tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/em….

NEW: Federal lawmakers passed the COVID-19 stimulus bill. Once TDLWD determines how TN will obtain the federal funding, we will announce details for independent contractors, the self-employed and business owners who will soon be able to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

NEW VIDEO: #COVID-19 Unemployment. CLAIMANTS MUST DO WEEKLY CERTIFICATIONS TO RECEIVE BENEFITS. There's an APP for that. Watch to see how you can certify each week with your smartphone. *FULL VIDEO BELOW*

INFORMATION ALERT: If your business is reducing hours or closing due to #COVID-19 you may expedite the unemployment claim process for your employees by providing Mass Layoff List or Employer-Filed Mass Claim. MORE DETAILS: bit.ly/2Ub1F7S.

Q: How long will it take before I receive my unemployment? A: #COVID-19 created a tremendous amount of unemployment claims. TDLWD is processing those claims as quickly as possible. Visit Jobs4TN.gov and go to your dashboard to check the status of your claim.