Del. Department of Labor expands unemployment benefits to help those affected by coronavirus pandemic

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Department of Labor has issued new guidelines to enhance the flexibility of Delaware’s unemployment insurance program, to help many Delaware workers whose employment has been directly affected by the coronavirus and who would not typically qualify for benefits.

The new guidelines are as follows:

• Workers will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits if an employer needs to curtail or shut down operations temporarily due to the State of Emergency or coronavirus outbreak
• A worker who has been ordered by a medical doctor to self-quarantine as a result of or due to risk of exposure to coronavirus will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits
• Parents or guardians who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave to care for children due to the emergency closure of schools will be eligible for benefits
• Workers who have been forced to quit or take unpaid leave to care for a loved one who has contracted coronavirus will be eligible for benefits
• If a worker comes down with the coronavirus and is unable to work, they may be eligible for unemployment benefits
• Part-time workers may be eligible for benefits
• The definition of weekly work search requirements will expand to include a wide variety of activities that meet the requirement, unemployment insurance deadlines may be modified for mandatory appointments, and applying for training programs or mandatory re-employment service appointments and workshops

Department of Labor offices are closed to the public during this State of Emergency, however the department remains operational and allows residents to file for unemployment benefits online here.