Information for Workers in Louisiana

Information for Employers in Louisiana

You MAY be eligible for unemployment insurance. You can file a claim at www.louisianaworks.net/hire or by calling our Claim Center at 866-783-5567.
For faster self-service options, please visit our website at www.louisianaworks.net/hire.

American Job Centers (AJC)
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all members of the public, some AJCs may close due to COVID-19. Please contact your local office for hours of operation and/or closure details. A list can be located at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/AJC_Contacts.pdf.

Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA)
All RESEA Service Point letters will be suspended beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 through Monday, April 13, 2020. Claimants who received RESEA letters on Thursday, March 12, 2020 will need to report to their American Job Center for RESEA compliance by Friday, March 27, 2020. Before reporting, claimants should contact their Job Center for hours and availability.
           Important RESEA Information:
           • If your job center is closed and you cannot comply with RESEA requirements, compliance will be
              waived for the current service point letter.
           • If you cannot comply due to your inability to report to the American Job Center as a result of being sick,
             isolated or quarantined, or caring for a sick family member, please do not report to the American Job
             Center. Contact your job center to notify staff of your situation. If you are caring for your child/children
             due to school closure, please notify staff as well. Your claim will be notated and compliance will be
             waived for the current service point letter.
           • If you have questions regarding your UI Claim, please contact 866-783-5567.

Strategies to Empower People (STEP) and Louisiana Job Employment Training (LaJET)
Participants of the STEP and LaJET programs who are in receipt of a letter or who have an established appointment at an American Job Center/LWC office, are excused from attending their meeting/appointment. For information regarding the status of your benefits, please contact your Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) case worker by phone or email. It is LWC’s intent that no one loses benefits due to this emergency situation; however, benefits decisions are determined by DCFS.

If you have questions concerning services provided by your LWC case manager, please contact your local office. A list is available at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/AJC_Contacts.pdf

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS)
LRS Offices are open. Please contact your counselor regarding any upcoming appointments. Contact information for each regional office is available at http://www.laworks.net/WorkforceDev/LRS/LRS_RegionalOffices.asp.

Please note the Baton Rouge Regional Office has moved. The new address is 950 N. 22nd Street, Baton Rouge, LA. 70802.

Job Fairs
All Louisiana Workforce Commission sponsored job fairs are postponed until further notice.

Veterans
Veteran services will continue as normal, please contact the local office in your area to find hours of operations due to COVID-19. A list of offices is available at http://www.laworks.net/Downloads/WFD/Vet_StaffLocations.pdf.

Community Action Agencies (CAA) /Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
In an effort to ensure the health and safety of all members of the public, some CAAs may close due to COVID-19 or have limited available services. Please contact your local office for hours of operation and/or closure details. A list can be located at http://www.laworks.net/ServiceLocator.asp and selecting Community Services Block Grant in the drop-down menu under Choose by Office Type section.

Rapid Response
Rapid Response is a pre-layoff program designed to help companies and their employees experiencing a layoff or closing. The LWC Rapid Response Unit is available for assistance concerning temporary or permanent layoffs due to Covid-19. Email André France at afrance@lwc.la.gov.
          The Rapid Response Program is also seeking to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 by retaining
          employees and ensuring business stability and vitality. We have developed a brief survey to determine
          how we can best provide support to Louisiana employers during this difficult time:
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5520873/La-Workforce-Commission-COVID-19-Employer-Survey

Labor programs
For the Special COVID-19 Blanket Employment Certificates for Minors to work in Louisiana memo, click here.

LWC’s Office of Workers’ Compensation issues emergency rule

All court appearances shall be continued between Monday, March 16, 2020 and Friday, March 27, 2020 and rescheduled afterwards on an expedited basis. No court appearance are allowed to be conducted by phone.

All in-person mediation conferences shall be continued between Monday, March 16, 2020 and Friday, March 27, 2020 and rescheduled afterwards on an expedited basis.

Because of the COVID-19 coronavirus, facsimile filing should be encouraged as much as possible, inasmuch as the state desires to limit unnecessary personal interactions and to promote social distancing.

If you have been laid off from work or faced a reduction in hours, you may be eligible for Medicaid.
Apply online at MyMedicaid.la.gov or by phone at 888-342-6207.