The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission released step-by-step guidance today to assist individuals not eligible for regular unemployment benefits to file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
“PUA applicants must first be denied regular unemployment benefits before applying for PUA,” said Secretary of Digital Information David Ostrowe. “We’ve streamlined the process and created a step-by-step guide to improve the user experience in filing for assistance.”
OESC, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, and Granicus collaborated to improve the application and notification process in overhauling the antiquated system utilized for decades.
“The mainframe at OESC wasn’t created to handle this type of unemployment claim or the number of claims received over the last six weeks,” Ostrowe said. “I appreciate the efforts of our teams working around the clock to morph old technology with state-ofthe-art software.
Oklahoma continues to lead the nation with its initiative to digitally transform state agencies, user-experience, and online access to the services our residents need.”
The step-by-step guide is available below and online at www. oesc.ok.gov.
Applicants may view a Q&A video about PUA at https://biteable.com/watch/pua-2533385.
Guide to Filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
The full Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) application form is now available. PUA is unemployment insurance for those who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, including:
gig workers, independent contractors, other self-employed individuals
workers whose regular unemployment benefits have expired who were laid off, furloughed, or are otherwise out of work due to the pandemic
those denied unemployment insurance benefits or whose benefits have been exhausted
Please see the information below to ensure your PUA application is received and processed successfully.
YOU MUST FIRST BE APPLY AND BE DENIED REGU- LAR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BEFORE APPLYING FOR PUA
I have been denied regular unemployment and need to apply for PUA.
Visit https://ui.ok.gov
Create an account. Check your email and click on the link to activate your account.
Sign In and create your profile. You can check the status of your application without re-entering your personal information each time.
Click Connect your SSN. You’ll be prompted to enter your social security number twice.
After successfully connecting your SSN click complete to check your claim status.
Click View Your Unemployment Claim Status.
As your claim is processed, those changes will be reflected in real time.
WHAT TO HAVE READY WHEN FILING FOR UNEM- PLOYMENT OR PUA Proof of Employment
If you are WORKER/EMPLOYEE/CONTRACT LABORER (not self-employed), you MUST submit documentation verifying that you were working or scheduled to start work at the time of the Pandemic by one or more of ...
