Oklahomans Getting Unemployment Could Soon Receive $300 Extra Per Week

Thousands of Oklahomans could soon be getting an extra $300 extra per week in unemployment funds.

Governor Stitt’s Office confirmed Monday that the Oklahoma Unemployment Security Commission applied for President Trump’s Lost Wages Assistance Program.

OESC Interim Director Shelley Zumwalt said it may take several weeks to make this happen due to technology issues at the state level.

“I’m going to be perfectly honest with you. The estimate getting it is four to five weeks, and I know that people are hearing that and they’re like, ‘oh my gosh.’ I am right there with them,” Zumwalt said.

The program, which uses funds from FEMA and a 25% state match, will be retroactive. So, once Oklahoma is approved, recipients should get backpay starting from August 1.

“It will help them to continue to pay their bills to meet the needs, the necessities that they deem to be important to them until we can get them back into the workforce and make sure they have stable footing to go forward,” Zumwalt said.

Zumwalt said she doubts the state’s request would be denied.

“If I could speed that up in any way, I would and I wish I could,” Zumwalt said.

However, not everyone is pleased with the program.

Oklahoma House Minority Leader Emily Virgin pointed out that $300 is only half the amount of wage assistance unemployed Oklahomans were receiving earlier in the pandemic.

In a statement Virgin said in part: “While we appreciate Governor Stitt’s concern for unemployed Oklahomans, it is disappointing that he would sign them up for a 50 percent reduction in their federal unemployment benefits.”

According to the US government, the assistance will go until the $44 billion from FEMA runs out, Congress passes a new compensation plan, or December 27, 2020.