COVID-19 April 11 Update

Have a Happy Easter

“But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.”
Matt. 28:5-6

Update from MDES

• In Thursday’s press conference with the Governor, MDES Executive Director, Jackie Turner and Timothy Rush, Director of Unemployment Insurance, gave an update on how applicants for unemployment compensation should proceed.
  • First, try to file your claim online here: https://accessms.mdes.ms.gov/accessms/faces/login/login.xhtml
  • If you cannot access the system, download this printed claim form and fill it out: https://mdes.ms.gov/media/178819/ui-501_form_web.pdf
  • Once you have filled out the printed claim form, please email it to your local WIN Job Center. Their email addresses can be found here: https://mdes.ms.gov/unemployment-claims/covid19/update-more-ways-tofile-your-covid-19-claims#WJCS
• After you have filed your claim or emailed with a question, please wait 3 to 5 business days before contacting MDES to follow up.
• We have received many questions about federal unemployment compensation under the CARES Act.
  • If you have already filed your claim for regular Mississippi unemployment compensation benefits, you do not need to do anything further at this time to be considered for federal unemployment compensation.
  • Even if you received a message that you are not eligible for regular Mississippi benefits, MDES will run queries that pick up your claim and they will process it for federal benefits.
• If you are not eligible for Mississippi benefits because you are self-employed, MDES asks that you wait to file your claim for federal unemployment compensation until they have their claims system set up to process those claims.
  • They anticipate that process will be done within the next couple of weeks, but it is a labor-intensive process to reprogram their systems.
  • They will notify us when that system is up and running, and we will update you in our daily report.
• My office continues to talk with MDES to find ways to reduce the claims processing burden, to increase the claims processing capacity, and to clarify eligibility standards during this crisis. We remind you that the normal one-week waiting period and work search requirements have already been suspended.

Recruiting Private Help for MDES

• We continue to explore avenues to help MDES increase its capacity to process claims. A Mississippi staffing agency, Professional Staffing Group, is collecting resumes of qualified individuals. They prefer applicants who have claims processing or call center experience or who have a strong clerical background.
• Applicants must pass a background check. Serious inquiries should submit their resume here: https://www.prostaffgroup.com/candidate-registration/

Update on number of cases.

• 173 new cases reported yesterday.
• Total cases statewide now number 2,642.
• Unfortunately, we now have 93 deaths. While most of the deaths have been above the age of 60, five of the deaths have been below the age of 60.
• 52 outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

Call if you need help.

• We have had phone calls to our office forwarded to our staff. If you need any help at all, please call us at 601-359-3300.
• We have also set up an email address for you to ask questions or seek help. That address is [email protected].