Following an executive order from Governor Sununu and the passage of the federal CARES Act, many more people are now able to apply for unemployment benefits as a result of COVID-19, including those who need to quarantine, and those who are self-employed.

The Exchange spoke with the Deputy Commissioner of Employment Security, Rich Lavers. Here are some highlights from that conversation. They have been lightly edited for clarity.

How has eligibility for unemployment benefits been extended for those affected by the coronavirus?

“If you wanted to self-quarantine, if you need to take care of your child because schools are closed or take care of a loved one or you are sick, you were able to file and be found eligible under the governor’s order. And he also extended that out to the self-employed.”

What does the federal government’s CARES Act cover?

Prior to [the pandemic], the maximum weekly benefit amount that an individual could receive in New Hampshire for unemployment benefits was $427 a week. And that was for individuals that had earned $41,400 in their four quarter base period or above. So that was the maximum amount.

Now that same individual is going to be able to add on an additional $600 to that benefit to bring them up to $1027 a week.

What if I am self-employed?

“We give you a copy of the net earnings statement that we’re asking you to fill out to self-test your earnings from your 2019 federal tax return. If you have not filed that yet, we’d be working with you on your 2018 numbers as a substitute for those.

But just to be clear, self-employed individuals became eligible on an emergency basis during this crisis by Governor Sununu’s order. Then that continues under the CARES Act and the federal legislation that was passed on Friday evening.”

What documentation do I need?

“We are not requiring a doctor’s note. We are requiring the individual to self attest to the particular reason why they are out right now and unable to work. And we are reviewing each of those as they come in.

“Information then goes out to the employer about that claim. And the employers have been really good about returning that information as quickly as possible. We’ve been able to get payments out the door because of that process quicker than we had originally hoped…

“We understand that, in an ideal world, we would be requiring more documentation regarding someone who is quarantining or needing to take care of a child. But I don’t think right now, with the extent of this crisis, and the importance of getting these dollars out as quickly as possible, not only for the individuals, but New Hampshire’s economy in general, to be able to weather this crisis, that we have to be careful in what processes we create, that we don’t create roadblocks for getting these critical dollars out.”

How much of a reduction in hours do I need to qualify?

“Individuals that continue to work full time are not eligible for unemployment.

“For a person that does see a reduction in hours, it doesn’t need to be a complete elimination of hours. It just needs to be a partial reduction – as long as there is a partial reduction in work and a reduction in earnings, then the individual is eligible.

“Whether or not they’re going to qualify for a benefit amount, though, depends upon how much they are currently earning…

“An individual is only allowed to earn 30 percent of their weekly benefit amount. So if someone had a weekly benefit amount of, say, the maximum, about a month before the federal benefits kicked in, $427 a week, they’d be able to earn about $186 a week in earnings before there was any penalty.

“Then for every dollar above the $186 that they earned, it would actually reduce their benefit amount. Dollar for dollar…. It’s that 30 percent threshold of your weekly benefit amount.

“So depending on how much you continue to earn, it might reduce or eliminate what your weekly benefit amount would have been for that week.”

What if I was laid off before the changes in unemployment qualifications, but I am still unable to find a job?

“You would qualify for the additional $600 a week that came through with the CARES Act, that will be added to your weekly benefit amount. It will be in your that single check. It will not be in a second check or be in that same direct deposit. ”

If I was already filing for unemployment, do I need to reapply under the new requirements?

“[No.] So it applies to people that are claiming right now that started claiming prior to the the the crisis. So all [a person] needs to do is continue to file is [their] weekly claims.

“People can start filing those weekly claims each week on Sunday through that next Saturday. And you’re always claiming for that prior week of unemployment.”

What if I have exhausted my 26 week unemployment benefit period during the crisis?

“So those folks that would exhaust their 26 weeks of benefits are able to start collecting right away again without having to wait to the end of their benefit year and having that delay and being able to access benefits again. [There is a] recognition on the federal level that the ability of individuals to find work and not exhaust benefits is very much limited right now.”

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