Understanding Unemployment - For Independent Contractors - Prospera Business Network, Bozeman MT

Many Independent Contractors and Gig Workers have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 incident and the trickle-down effect is beginning to spread. Self-employed, sole proprietors, business advisors and consultants are some of the people who rely on other businesses and their infrastructure for them to do business.

Here are a few tips on how to get your Unemployment Claim started:

Go to this website: https://mtpua.mt.gov/ ~ Pandemic Unemployment Insurance (PUI)
Be sure to have your driver license, FEIN #, 2019 wage/ income records, cell phone & banking information to make receiving payments easy.
List your COVID-19 Reason for Unemployment
There is not a waiting period for PUA and individuals may be eligible for up to 39 weeks and if you are also eligible for Regular Unemployment, this may reduce the 39 weeks.
The minimum amount of weekly benefits is $184/ week. If eligible for benefits, this would also kick in the additional $600/ week benefit under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), ending on July 25^th 2020
File an update on hours and income worked and received weekly
Enter bank account information to receive Unemployment benefits by direct deposit

Here’s another link with helpful FAQ: https://dli.mt.gov/self-employed-contractors

If you would like to learn more about what local resources are available, then you’ll want to attend this webinar. Kari Gras, a local and experienced HR expert, will cover how certain Unemployment benefits can help you get through these challenging times. Learn the steps on where to file a benefit claim and the different types of payments you may be eligible to receive – UI, PUA, FPUC and PEUC. We will cover some common missteps to avoid when submitting your claim for benefits and how to submit a report each week, even if you begin to work a little.

Come with your questions, ready to learn, participate and walk away feeling educated.

June 25th from 12-1pm