Finalized data from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) show initial claims for unemployment insurance totaled 39,496 for the week ending April 18, down 19,145 claims, or 32.6 percent compared to last week’s total of 58,641. This is the second straight week of declines in the level of initial claims in the state. Through the week ending April 18, there have been 369,670 initial claims filed in 2020, more than in any full calendar year in state history.
Continued claims, which represent the current number of insured unemployed workers filing weekly for unemployment insurance benefits, rose to 231,618, up by 42,611 claims, or 22.5 percent, from a week ago. Continued claims, which lag initial claims, are likely to rise as the state continues to see elevated levels of initial claims. Nevada’s insured unemployment rate, which is the ratio of continued claims to covered employment, was 16.8 percent in the week, the highest insured unemployment rate in state history.
Nationally, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 4,427,000, a decline of 810,000 claims from the previous week's revised level of 5,245,000. The national insured unemployment rate for the week ending April 11 was 11.0 percent, the highest rate in the history of the series. The national rate is reported with a one-week lag.
To file for unemployment in the State of Nevada, please use the online application available 24/7 at http://ui.nv.gov/css.html. People unable to file online may file via telephone by calling a UI Claims Call Center between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Northern UI Call Center: (775) 684-0350; Southern UI Call Center: (702) 486-0350; Rural areas & Out-of-State: (888) 890-8211; and the General Question Hotline: (800) 603-9671. Claimants are highly encouraged to use the internet to file their UI claims, as it is the fastest and most convenient way to file and reserves the phone lines for individuals who are not able or do not have the necessary resources to file online. Online filing during non-peak hours, such as early mornings, at night or weekends is also highly recommended. To continue to receive benefits, claimants must file weekly.
Online filers are encouraged to participate in the online claim filing system announced last week. The system, now operational, is organized by last names and is aimed at providing quicker results for Nevadans seeking to gain access to unemployment benefits.
Claimants with last names starting with A-K are asked to file on Sundays. Last names L-R are asked to file on Mondays. Last names S-Z are asked to file on Tuesday. Wednesday through Saturday are open for all to initiate or renew claims online.
Claimants are encouraged to visit http://ui.nv.gov/css.html and at https://detr.nv.gov/Page/COVID-19_(Coronavirus)_Information_for_Claimants_and_Employers [detr.nv.gov] to view important announcements and access essential resources. Online tutorial videos are also available in both English and Spanish and can be viewed on the Nevada Unemployment InsuranceYouTube page.
