Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance totaled 21,635 for the week ending May 9, down 6,915 claims, or 24.2 percent compared to last week’s total of 28,550. Through the week ending May 9, there have been 462,396 initial claims filed in 2020, 440,744 of which have come in the last nine weeks.
Continued claims, which represent the current number of insured unemployed workers filing weekly for unemployment insurance benefits, rose to 324,444. This is an increase from the previous week of 20,871 claims, or 6.9 percent. Continued claims, which lag initial claims, are expected to rise as Nevada sees elevated levels of initial claims. The state’s insured unemployment rate, which is the ratio of continued claims in a week to the total number of jobs covered by the unemployment insurance system (also known as covered employment), was 23.5 percent in the week, the highest insured unemployment rate in state history. It should be noted that the calculation of the insured unemployment rate is different from that of the state’s total unemployment rate.
Nationally, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 2,981,000 a decline of 195,000 claims from the previous week's revised level of 3,169,000. The national insured unemployment rate for the week ending May 2 was 15.7 percent, the highest rate in the history of the series. The national rate is reported with a one-week lag.
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To file for unemployment in the State of Nevada, please use the online application available 24/7 at http://ui.nv.gov/css.html. People unable to file online may file via telephone by calling a UI Claims Call Center between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Northern UI Call Center: (775) 684-0350; Southern UI Call Center: (702) 486-0350; Rural areas and Out-of-State: (888) 890-8211. Claimants are highly encouraged to use the internet to file their UI claims, as it is the fastest and most convenient way to file and reserves the phone lines for individuals who are not able or do not have the necessary resources to file online. Online filing during non-peak hours, such as early mornings, at night or weekends is also highly recommended. To continue to receive benefits, claimants must file weekly.
Online filers are encouraged to participate in the online claim filing system announced last month. The system, now operational, is organized by last names and is aimed at providing quicker results for Nevadans seeking to gain access to unemployment benefits: Claimants with last names starting with A-K are asked to file on Sundays. Last names L-R are asked to file on Mondays. Last names S-Z are asked to file on Tuesday. Wednesday through Saturday are open for all to initiate or renew claims online.
Beginning May 16, Nevada’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA) will be available to Nevada workers who are self-employed, 1099 contract workers, and gig workers. For further information regarding the PUA program visit detr.nv.gov/pua. Individuals will be able to file online at www.employnv.gov or call the PUA Call Center at (800) 603-9681.
