PEORIA, Ill. — Beginning Monday, May 11, the self-employed can apply for unemployment benefits from the federal government.
Chris Setti, CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, told WMBD’s Greg and Dan, ordinarily, those business people would not qualify for unemployment benefits because they do not pay into the system.
“Those are your hair stylists and your barbers, your web designers. Your independent contractors,” Setti said.
As of Monday, the self-employed are now covered through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program that was crafted as part of the first relief bill pass by Congress.
The federal government had to build an additional system that is now up and running to handle the additional filings of self-employed individuals.
“The way I understand it, you will actually get back pay from the first day you were unemployed. For some of those folks it depends. It could be back as far as the middle of March,” Setti said.
Setti adds, accuracy in reporting earnings will be extremely important for self-employed individuals trying to file for unemployment benefits.
To learn more from the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, click HERE.
