KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eligible Kansans who have filed unemployment claims with the state should begin to see an extra $600 in their weekly payments.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Delía García said a processing issue that caused a delay in issuing the payments has been fixed.
Beginning Thursday, those eligible for the supplemental Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment should receive it automatically.
The payment is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which also provided stimulus checks to eligible United States citizens.
García said retroactive payments for prior weeks after the law went into effect on March 29 will be following soon.
Kelly and García also announced a temporary regulation drafted by the Department of Labor that creates worker’s compensation coverage for first responders in Kansas.
García said the regulation would create a presumption for first responders who contract COVID-19 that it arose from their work.
KDOL is working with senators to get legislation of the same nature drafted and introduced to the legislature at the next available opportunity.
García also said Thursday the department’s website can now be viewed in Spanish.
“When I started, a year ago, I wanted to increase availability of materials in Spanish, and we took major steps forward and doing this with our website and other materials being available in Spanish,” García said.
Kansans can now file their weekly claims, check their claims status, and view the FAQ section in Spanish.
García said the department will continue to add more Spanish resources.
“These are all good steps forward, and we will continue our efforts to get benefits to all of our Kansans in need as quickly as possible,” García said.
Watch the full press conference below.
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