Abbott announces new unemployment guidance

Just prior to a statewide loosening of stay-at-home restrictions designed to slow the spread of Covid-19, Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order allowing Texans to receive unemployment benefits for “certain reasons.” The expanded reasons that allow one to turn down work and claim unemployment are:

• At high risk: People 65 years or older are at a higher risk for getting very sick from Covid-19.
• Household member at high risk: People 65 years or older are at a higher risk of getting very sick from Covid-19.
• Diagnosed with Covid-19: The individual has tested positive for Covid-19 by a source authorized by the state of Texas and is not recovered.
• Family member with Covid-19: Anybody in the household has tested positive for Covid-19 by a source authorized by the state of Texas and is not recovered and 14 days have not yet passed.
• Quarantined: Individual is currently in 14-day quarantine due to close contact exposure to Covid-19.
• Child care: Child’s school or daycare closed and no alternatives are available.

“As the Lone Star State begins the process of safely and strategically opening the economy, our top priority is protecting the health and safety of all Texans – especially those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19,” Abbott said in a statement to the press. “This flexibility in the unemployment benefit process will help ensure that Texans with certain health and safety concerns will not be penalized for choosing not to return to work.”