PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey has signed an Executive Order expanding unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The legislation expands access to unemployment benefits for Arizonans affected by COVID-19 by waiving certain Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) eligibility requirements.
The bill expands eligibility to individuals in the following situations:
- Individuals who are not receiving wages due to their workplace closing due to COVID-19, even if the individual intends to go back to work when the business reopens;
- Individuals who are following directives to self-quarantine and intend to return to work;
- And individuals who leave employment to care for a family member.
The legislation applies retroactively to March 10, 2020.
Last week, Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order allowing unemployment eligibility to those who lost their job due to COVID-19. It also waived the one-week waiting period after an employee loses a job before they apply for unemployment benefits and waiving search requirements for those receiving unemployment benefits.
View the full Executive Order here.
