Help available for the unemployed, small businesses
Posted on Mar 28, 2020 in Capitol Connection, Featured
Unemployed individuals can apply for benefits 24 hours a day using a new digital form.
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) has a new digital form to apply for unemployment benefits that can be submitted 24 hours a day. DLIR has also increased its staff to handle the surge in applications. For phone application appointments, call 762-5752. The new claim form is at https://huiclaims.hawaii.gov/#/
DLIR is also looking to connect people to Hawai‘i businesses looking for workers, especially for fighting COVID-19. The Reducing Unemployment Disruption & Driving Economic Regeneration (RUDDER) program provides up to $100,000 of relief for Hawai‘i businesses who hired new employees after March 1, 2020.
Hawai‘i small businesses suffering financial losses from the impact of COVID-19 can now file for low-interest working capital loans of up to $2 million from the Small Business Administration (SBA). A certification request submitted by Governor Ige cleared the way for the state’s business owners to participate in the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Assistance Program. The loans can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll and other bills that can’t be paid because of a disaster’s impact. Loan forms and more information are available at the at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.“Small businesses are a vital economic driver in our community, and we must do everything we can to support them as they struggle through this crisis,” said the governor.