A resource guide for employees and employers.

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, our communities are continuing to experience tighter restrictions on social interactions, impacting businesses across all sectors. This will affect people all over Albuquerque, employers and employees alike. As of March 18, restaurants are mandated to close all dining rooms, events are cancelled, and school bus drivers are out of work in light of statewide school closures. There are ripples across the community. 

Both Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Mayor Tim Keller are moving swiftly to enable protections and provide assistance to local businesses and employees. The state has secured disaster loan assistance for small businesses, and Workforce Solutions has adapted eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits to include all those affected by COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know to take advantage of these much-needed resources.

For Employees

What Unemployment Benefits Exist?

Employees who have lost their jobs or seen their hours drastically reduced are eligible for unemployment insurance from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Financial assistance varies, but the baseline benefits provide up to 26 weeks of pay compensation. 

• Unemployment insurance provides up to $461 per week depending on past quarterly earnings. Additional weeks of benefits may be available dependent on funding by the federal government.

Am I Eligible?

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NM Department of Workforce Solutions has adapted eligibility requirements. Workers who are eligible for unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic include:

• Employees who have been laid off due to COVID-19
• Employees who have had their hours reduced due to COVID-19
• Workers who are in self-quarantine or who have been directed to quarantine
• Those who have immediate family members in quarantine

For up to four weeks, Workforce Solutions will be waiving the work search requirements in light of the pandemic. 

For more detailed information, download the NMWFS fact sheets here: 

• COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fact Sheet 
• COVID-19 UI Hoja de Hechos

The Workforce Solutions online dashboard offers a variety of assistance and resources for job seekers:

• Job opening announcements, job market explorer, and market trends analysis
• Budget planning
• Resume builder
• Financial assistance for new certifications, career changes, and training through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program

Read the unemployment insurance brochure here

How to File 

If you are eligible, there are two ways to file an unemployment claim with Workforce Solutions:

• File online at www.jobs.state.nm.us (this method is highly encouraged)
• File by phone by calling 1-877-664-6984 (toll-free) or 1-877-664-6984. Their office is open 8:00am–4:30pm, Monday–Friday
• To apply, you’ll need to provide the following information:
  • Social Security number
  • Mailing address and phone number of your employer
  • Starting and ending dates of your last job
  • For non-citizens, have your alien registration number and expiration date
  • Gross amount of your last week of pay before filing

For Employers

The decisions employers have to make in response to mandated closures and quickly changing economic circumstances are some of the hardest ones imaginable. Many businesses owners are stuck between a rock and a hard place, having to let valued employees go. If you are an employer who has had to make those tough calls, know that you are not alone and that there are safety nets provided by the state and the federal government to support your team through challenging times. We are in this together. Please share the unemployment information above with your staff. 

As developments around our state’s response to COVID-19 and the impacts of those on businesses evolve, it’s essential for employers to stay up to date with the latest non-essential business closures and public health requirements from the CDC. Here are some helpful resources, updated regularly:

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Prevention, Symptoms and FAQ
• How to conduct a risk assessment for potential employee exposure

Disaster Loan Assistance 

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic has allowed the state government to release disaster assistance to businesses experiencing closures and reduced hours. Find out more here. 

Other Business Resources

City Alive is committed to providing comprehensive resources on other loan and relief options for local businesses. Please visit the COVID-19 Business Roadmap page for the most updated information.

Is there another way we can help you? Contact us via our COVID-19 Business Roadmap page.