If you’ve recently lost a job or had your hours reduced at your workplace, the financial insecurity can be stressful. This is especially true if your job loss is triggered by economic upheaval that spikes local unemployment rates, creating high demand for a limited number of jobs—and making the process of finding work that much more intimidating.
Unemployment benefits were developed to provide an important safety net for workers. Individuals and households affected by a job loss can receive financial support as they search for a new job that can save them from making drastic changes to their life, or falling behind on mortgage, rent, and other essential payments.
If you live in Oklahoma, unemployment benefits are just an application away. Here’s a guide to these benefits, and how to start receiving unemployment payments.
Oklahoma residents are eligible for maximum unemployment payments of $490 per week. This number is determined based on your earnings over the past calendar year.
The state offers unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks, assuming you are meeting key criteria such as actively seeking new work. Unemployment benefit extensions may be granted on a case-by-case basis, depending on your current challenges in finding work.
More recently, pandemic unemployment assistance in Oklahoma created an extension of the unemployment benefits window, from 26 to 39 weeks. This unemployment benefits eligibility was later extended by another 11 weeks. In addition, extra unemployment funding through the CARES Act has increased weekly benefit payments by $300.
Oklahoma’s unemployment program has also expanded its eligibility to include workers previously not able to apply for unemployment benefits, such as self-employed individuals and freelancers. The terms of these unemployment benefits, including extended eligibility windows and increased payments, are subject to change.
To maximize your benefits and start receiving them quickly, file for unemployment as soon as you become unemployed. Online applications can be accessed through the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) website. You will need to provide basic identifying information as well as your employment history, to verify that you are currently unemployed. The application process can also be completed through an OESC office or on the phone.
Once your Oklahoma unemployment application is submitted and processed, you will be approved or denied. If approved, you should receive an unemployment verification letter that confirms your enrollment and offers guidance on additional steps to maintain your Oklahoma unemployment status until you find a new job. Certain criteria must be met to remain eligible, including applying for jobs to demonstrate an effort at finding work.
If your application is denied, you can file an appeal or review the information in your application for any errors. You can also contact the OESC office to gather more information related to your denial, and to make sure your next application is approved.
The fastest way to receive unemployment payments is through direct deposit. The state of Oklahoma handles direct deposit payments through a third-party service called Conduent. Direct deposit forms should be filled out with your bank account information and then submitted to the OESC office. You can find these direct deposit forms through the OESC website, or by calling the office directly at 866-320-8699 to request a paper form in the mail.
If you don’t have a bank account, you can receive payments through a debit card. This debit card can be mailed out after your unemployment application is approved.
If your unemployment benefits won’t be processed and paid out quickly enough to cover urgent bills—including rent and mortgage, or even living costs such as food and utilities—one option is to apply for a personal loan that can provide a financial bridge between your loss of employment and the start of your unemployment benefits. This may be particularly useful if your current savings are minimal and/or you have been told to expect delays in unemployment processing, which may be likely if demand for unemployment benefits is high.
Although the state of Oklahoma used to run an unemployment program specifically for partial unemployment—such as full-time workers who had their hours reduced—this program is no longer in operation. However, individuals dealing with partial unemployment can still file an unemployment claim through the state’s main unemployment program. After reviewing the application, the unemployment office will issue partial payments to approved applicants, supplementing their lost income to offer short-term financial relief. In the state of Oklahoma, full-time employment is defined as at least 32 hours per week.
