FRANKFORT - In an effort to serve the large influx of Kentuckians who are filing for unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is implementing new filing procedures and starting new local office phone lines for customers.

Effective immediately, Kentucky Career Centers across the state have been closed to the public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but KCC workers are still providing services by telephone and video conference.

Beginning immediately, Kentuckians filing for unemployment benefits should follow a schedule that pertains to the first initial in their last name as to what day they can file their claim.  The schedule is as follows:


This Week

Wednesday, March 18.............................................A-I
Thursday, March 19................................................ J-R
Friday, March 20.......................................................S-Z
Friday, March 20..........If You Missed Your Day


Next Week

Sunday.......................................................................... A-D
Monday ......................................................................... E-H
Tuesday............................................................................I-L
Wednesday................................................................ M-P
Thursday..................................................................... Q-U
Friday...............................................................................V-Z
Friday..................................If You Missed Your Day

"We are putting this new procedure in place so that we can handle the large influx of new claims that we are seeing this week. The number of claims being processed by the cabinet has jumped significantly after new restrictions were placed on restaurants and other public places," said EWDC Deputy Secretary Josh Benton. "Please follow this new process if you are filing a claim so that our computer and phone systems will perform at optimal levels. We want to make sure we can receive and process claims for all those experiencing job loss."

Here are contact numbers for KCC services, including unemployment questions. Please use the phone number for the location nearest you so that no location is overwhelmed by customers.

Bowling Green area      270-746-7425
Elizabethtown area         270-766-5115
Covington area         859-292-6666
Hazard area                 888-503-1423
Hopkinsville area         270-889-6509
Lexington area         859-233-5940
Louisville area         502-595-4003
Morehead area         606-783-8525
Owensboro area         270-686-2502
Paducah area                 270-575-7000
Prestonsburg area         888-503-1423
Somerset area                 606-677-4124
 

Claimants can also call the UI Help Line at 502-564-2900, if they have questions.

On March 16, Gov. Andy Beshear directed EWDC to waive the state's seven-day waiting period to receive unemployment benefits and the work-search requirement for benefits during the COVID-19 state of emergency.