INDIANA – NO ACTION NEEDED: RECENT SIDES EMPLOYER EMAIL NOTIFICATION
Indiana employers may have recently received an email from the Department of Workforce Development regarding an updated communication practice. The email indicated that employers who are not currently utilizing SIDES will be auto enrolled in SIDES E-Response.
Please note, there is no action needed by your organization in response to this change as Thomas & Company is already enrolled with SIDES on your behalf. Should you have any specific questions or concerns associated with this transition, please reach out to your account management team for assistance.
MASSACHUSETTS – ADJUSTING CALL CENTER HOURS TO IMPROVE CLAIMS PROCESSING
Amid ongoing reports of delayed benefits throughout the state, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has rolled out a 3-month pilot program in an attempt to make claim processing more efficient.
Beginning Friday, August 1, the DUA will only have call center hours available Monday through Thursday. Fridays will be dedicated to addressing and processing open claims and additional outstanding requests.
This does not change an individual’s ability to file a claim or request weekly benefits online or over the phone on Fridays, but the DUA does hope this will create additional capacity and improve the claims processing timeline.
At the end of the 3-month trial period, the DUA will reassess the success of the program and determine next steps.
NEW MEXICO – DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE NOW AVAILABLE
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now available to individuals who were affected by severe storms, flooding, and landslides that impacted New Mexico on June 23. Impacted individuals in Lincoln County may be eligible for DUA benefits. Additional counties may be added to the disaster declaration at a later date.
As a reminder, DUA is an unemployment insurance benefit made available after a disaster and is only available to individuals who:
- Have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits.
- Worked or were self-employed or scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area.
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster.
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.
- Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster.
- Became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.
An individual must first apply for regular unemployment benefits online at www.jobs.state.nm.us, by visiting an America’s Job Center New Mexico location, or by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations center at 1-877-664-6984, Monday through Friday, 8 AM -4:30 PM. If an individual is ineligible for regular benefits, they may apply for DUA by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center and select Option 5. DUA applications are only being accepted by phone.
The application deadline is September 22, 2025.
