Yes. You may be eligible for unemployment benefits. File for unemployment insurance benefits online at https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx. In order to qualify for a COVID-19 related unemployment program, you must have lost your job or had a reduction in income on or after January 27, 2020.

You may be entitled to receive unemployment benefits if you:

• Lost your job
• Have been laid off
• Had your hours reduced
• Are in unpaid status due to your work being shut down
• Are in quarantine
• Are sick and need to miss work
• Are caring for a family member who is ill
• Are caring for a family member due to a facility closure (e.g. school closure, daycare closure)
• Also applies to those who are self-employed, independent contractors, part-time workers, gig-workers (e.g. Uber or Lyft driver), and those with short-work histories

The American Rescue Plan, passed by Congress on March 10, 2021, extends the federal unemployment programs, originally passed under the CARES Act and extended under the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), through September 6, 2021. These unemployment programs include:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): PUA is an unemployment benefit for people who would not otherwise qualify for state unemployment benefits and who lost work due to COVID related reasons (see more information on COVID related reasons below).  Under the CAA, PUA was available through March 14, 2021. Under the American Rescue Plan, PUA benefits are extended to September 6, 2021, and the maximum duration of PUA benefits is increased from 50 to 79 weeks. 

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PUEC): PUEC extends the amount of time you can receive unemployment benefits.  Under the CAA, PUEC provided up to 24 weeks of additionally unemployment eligibility through March 14, 2021.  The American Rescue Plan extends PEUC by providing up to 53 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to eligible individuals who have exhausted the unemployment benefits available under state law.  Typically eligibility for state unemployment benefits is 26 weeks. Under the American Rescue Plan, PUEC extends eligibility to up to a total of 79 weeks of unemployment benefits ending September 6, 2021.

Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC): PUC adds $300 a week to unemployment benefits. Under the CAA, the additional $300 weekly benefit was available between December 26, 2020 and March 14, 2021. Under the American Recovery Act, the additional $300 weekly benefit is available between March 14, 2021 and September 6, 2021.

In order to qualify for a COVID-19 related unemployment program, you must have lost your job or had a reduction in income on or after January 27, 2020.

Yes. You may be eligible to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). File for unemployment insurance benefits online at https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx.

Yes. You may be eligible to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). File for unemployment insurance benefits online at https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx.

Yes, under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) program, you may get an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits through September 6, 2021.  

Yes. You may be eligible for unemployment benefits under the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Program. File for unemployment insurance benefits online at https://neworks.nebraska.gov/vosnet/Default.aspx.

File for unemployment benefits as soon as your job ends, your hours are reduced, you have to miss work for a COVID-19 related reason, including caring for a family member or child whose school or daycare is closed.     

• Unemployment claims in Nebraska are filed online at nebraska.gov
• Step by step instructions to apply for unemployment insurance found at: https://www.dol.nebraska.gov/webdocs/getfile/d9c15f48-1d09-4f82-9839-1ceaaa388159
• The Nebraska Unemployment Benefit call center phone number is (402) 458-2500. However, the Nebraska Department of Labor is recommending individuals do as much as possible online.
• Local Job Centers may have limited computers and limited staff to assist you in applying for unemployment benefits. Local Job Center contact information can be found at this link: https://www.dol.nebraska.gov/Home/AboutUs
• After filing a new initial claim, applicants must certify their eligibility every week that they continue to be unemployed by logging into their NEworks account.  These weekly certifications must be completed even while a new claim is still being processed. 
• Any worker in a non-paid status due to COVID-19 may file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits.

Yes.

Apply for unemployment insurance benefits at this link.

The Nebraska Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information and frequently asked questions for employees at this link.

The United States Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information at   https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus.

No.  Under the Governor’s Executive Order, from March 22- August 1, 2020, the normal one week waiting period for state benefits is waived. If you are eligible to receive unemployment benefits under the new CARES Act programs, the one week waiting period is waived. Due to the large volume of unemployment applications, there is a delay is payments. You will receive the amount you are entitled to, but it may take 3-4 weeks to receive your first payment.

Yes, if you do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits, you may qualify if you are unable to continue working as a result of COVID-19.  Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program (PUA), the government is providing unemployment benefits to workers who are:

• Self-employed
• Independent contractors
• Freelancers
• Part-time workers
• Gig workers (including drivers for companies like Uber and Lyft)
• Workers with short work histories

You must not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits, extended unemployment benefits, or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (or you have exhausted all rights to such benefits)

AND

You must self-certify you are partly or totally unemployed or not able to work because of one of the following COVID-19 related reasons:

1. You have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking diagnosis;
2. A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
3. You are caring for someone diagnosed with COVID-19;
4. You are caring for a child or other household member that can’t attend school or work because it’s closed due to COVID-19;
5. You were supposed to start a job, but could not start your job because of COVID-19;
6. Your primary breadwinner died as a direct result of COVID-19;
7. You had to quit your job as a direct result of COVID-19;
8. Your work place closed as a direct result of COVID-19; or
9. You meet other criteria established by the Secretary of Labor.

No.

No.

No, if you are not eligible to work in the US, or are undocumented, you are not eligible for PUA.

Under PUA, you can receive up to 79 weeks including all regular unemployment insurance benefits and extended benefits under any federal or state law.

PUA will be the amount of your unemployment insurance benefit, but will have a minimum benefit that is equal to one-half the state’s average weekly unemployment insurance benefits – about $190 a week. 

Apply for unemployment insurance benefits through the Nebraska Department of Labor at this link.

The Nebraska Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information and frequently asked questions for employees at this link.

The United States Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information at   https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus.

Yes. You can get 53 additional weeks, up to 79 total weeks, of unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program if:

• You have exhausted all rights to unemployment benefits under Nebraska or federal law: and
• You are able to work, available to work, and actively searching for work. However, states need to be flexible in the requirement that workers be able and available for work, if you are unable to search for work because of COVID-19, including because you are sick, quarantined or subject to restrictions on movement.

You can get extended payments for up to 79 total under PEUC. Payments under the American Recovery Act can be made between March 14, 2021 until September 6, 2021.

Apply for unemployment insurance benefits at this link.

The Nebraska Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information and frequently asked questions for employees at this link.

The United States Department of Labor has COVID-19 Resources and Information at   https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus.

If you need to miss work for COVID-19 related reasons, you can get paid sick time if you work for:

• A government employer
• A private employer with less than 500 employees

 Please note:

• If you work for a health care or emergency responder, you employer may be exempt from providing paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Check with your employer.
• Employers with less than 50 employees can ask that they be exempt from providing paid sick leave to care for someone else who is sick or for a child whose school or daycare is closed.

There is no requirement that you be employed for any length of time in order to take sick leave.

If you are employed full-time you will get 80 hours of paid sick time. If you are employed less than full-time you will get an amount of leave based upon the average number of hours you work in a week based upon a typical two-week period. So if you work an average of 20 hours a week for two weeks, you can get 40 hours of sick paid time.

You can take emergency sick leave if:

• A health care provider has told you to self-quarantine even if your work is open and you can’t telework
• You are under a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order and you can’t telework
• You think you have COVID and need to get tested or seen by a doctor
• You are caring for an individual who is subject to quarantine or isolation order or has been advised to self-quarantine
• You are caring for your son or daughter because their school or place of care is closed, or if the person who usually takes care of your child is not available due to COVID reasons, or,
• The employee is “experiencing any other substantially similar condition” specified by the Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services, Treasury Department, and Department of Labor.

It depends on the reason why you are taking the emergency sick leave.

You will receive your full pay, up to $511 per day or $5,110 total if:

• You think you have COVID and need to get tested or seen by a doctor
• A health care provider has told you to self-quarantine
• You are under a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order

You will receive 2/3 pay, up to $200 a day or $2000 total if:

• You are caring for an individual who is self-isolating because of diagnosis or symptoms
• You are caring for your child if their school or place of care is closed, or if the person who usually takes care of your child is not available
• You are “experiencing any other substantially similar condition” specified by the Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services, Treasury Department, and Department of Labor.
• Please note employers with less than 50 employees may ask to be exempt (not have to provide paid sick leave) from paying for sick leave related to caring for another person, including your children.

No.

No. An employer cannot fire, discipline, or discriminate against an employee who takes sick leave under this act.

The law went into effect on April 1, 2020 and will end on December 31, 2020

You can get paid emergency family leave if:

• You work for a government employer are employed by a government employer
• You work for a private employer with less than 500 employees
• You are unable to work/telework because your son or daughter under 18 years of age school or place of care is closed or child care provider is unavailable due to COVID

Please note:

• Emergency family leave can only be used to care for a son or daughter whose school or daycare is closed or the childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 reasons.
• If you work for a health care or emergency responder, you employer may be exempt from providing paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons. Check with your employer.
• Employers with less than 50 employees can ask that they be exempt from providing paid sick leave to care for someone else.

You must be employed for at least 30 calendar days.

You can get up to12 weeks of leave.

The first 10 days of emergency leave are unpaid.

• You may elect to substitute accrued but unused vacation, personal, medical or sick leave benefits (if the employee has those benefits).

After the first 10 days, the rest of the emergency leave must be paid by the employer. 

• You must be paid no less than two-thirds of their regular wage, up to $200 per day and $10,000 in total.

Most employees who use emergency family leave are entitled to return from leave to be restored to their job position or to an equivalent position with equivalent employment benefits, pay, and other terms/conditions of employment.

However, if you work for a company with less than 25 employees, your employer may not be required to protect your job if certain conditions are met:

1. An employee took public health emergency leave;
2. The position no longer exists due to changes in the employers’ economic or operating conditions that affect employment and are caused by the public health emergency during the period of leave;
3. The employer made reasonable efforts to restore the employee to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay and other terms and conditions of employment; and
4. After failing to find an equivalent position, the employer contacts the employee if an equivalent position becomes available during the “contact period” which is the earlier of:
   • The date the employee’s public health emergency leave concludes or
   • The date that is 12 weeks after such leave began.

The law went into effect on April 1, 2020 and will end on December 31, 2020

Here are other resources where you can find helpful information:

US Department of Labor at this link.

National Employment Law Project at this link.

An employer who treats you worse than other workers because of your race, national origin, or ethnic background is violating the law. This includes employer actions that single you out because of negative stereotypes. See Information about Discrimination.

No. Your answer to that question is likely to disclose a disability. Therefore, the employer’s question may be against the law.

Your employer is required to keep all medical information about you private and confidential, unless otherwise required by the law.

If you have sick leave, you are entitled to use sick leave if you are missing work because of illness. Your employer should provide you with pay for the accrued sick days you have.

If your job does not provide sick leave, you may file a claim for Unemployment Insurance benefits with the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL). To get benefits you only need to meet certain minimum requirements, including having sufficient past earnings and an immigration status that allows you to work.

For more information about Unemployment Insurance benefits, including eligibility requirements and how to file a claim, please visit https://www.dol.nebraska.gov/UIBenefits or call 402-458-2500 (English).

At this time there is no Nebraska law that requires private sector employers to provide employees sick leave, paid or unpaid, although many employers do grant it as a popular employee benefit.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a federal law, was recently enacted. The law requires certain employers to provide sick leave and other paid time off under certain circumstances. The law will go into effect on April 2, 2020. Find a summary of the law related to employees here.

Your employer cannot retaliate against you for using paid sick days.

In addition, you may be entitled to job-protected time off from work for up to 12 weeks under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). You likely qualify for this leave if all of the following statements apply to you:

• You work for an employer with at least 50 employees within 75 miles of your worksite;
• You have worked there for at least a year, and
• You worked at least 1250 hours in the year before you take time off

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a federal law, was recently enacted that makes amendments to FMLA, including providing paid time off for up to 12 weeks under certain circumstances related to COVID-19. The law will go into effect on April 2, 2020.   Find a summary of the law related to employees here.