Worker Benefits
| Program | Why | What | Benefits | More Information | How to File |
| Disability Insurance | If you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) | Short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. | Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 52 weeks. | Learn more about your eligibility for Disability Insurance | File a Disability Insurance claim |
| Paid Family Leave | If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) | Up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member. | Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 6 weeks. | Learn more about your eligibility for Paid Family Leave | File a Paid Family Leave claim |
| Unemployment Insurance | If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 | Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own. | Range from $40-$450 per week for up to 26 weeks. | Learn more about your eligibility for Unemployment Insurance | File an Unemployment Insurance claim |
| Paid Sick Leave | If you or a family member are sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine | The leave you have accumulated or your employer has provided to you under the Paid Sick Leave law. | Paid to you at your regular rate of pay or an average based on the past 90 days. | Learn more about your eligibility for Paid Sick Leave | If accrued sick leave is denied, file a Wage claim |
| Workers’ Compensation | If you are unable to do your usual job because you were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of your work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. | Benefits include temporary disability (TD) payments, which begin when your doctor says you can’t do your usual work for more than three days or you are hospitalized overnight. You may be entitled to TD for up to 104 weeks. TD stops when either you return to work, your doctor releases you for work, or your doctor says your illness has improved as much as it’s going to. | TD generally pays two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while you are recovering from a work-related illness or injury, up to maximum weekly amount set by law. In addition, eligible employees are entitled to medical treatment and additional payments if a doctor determines you suffered a permanent disability because of the illness. | Learn more about your eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits | File a Workers’ Compensation claim |
If your child’s school is closed, and you have to miss work to be there for them, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Eligibility considerations include if you have no other care options and if you are unable to continue working your normal hours remotely.
New federal guidelines expand paid sick leave for workers.
- 2 weeks of paid sick leave if you have, need to be diagnosed or are quarantined for coronavirus
- 2 weeks paid sick leave if you are caring for a family member impacted by the above
- 12 weeks paid sick leave if you’re caring for a child while their school is closed
Not everyone qualifies for paid sick leave benefits under this new law. You unfortunately aren’t eligible if you work at a company with 500 or more employees. However, your company may offer its own policies related to paid sick leave or other employment benefits.
Currently, these paid sick leave benefits are temporary and last through December 31, 2020.
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