2 • May 20-21, 2020 LOCAL bransonglobe.com Missouri offers guidance on Paycheck Protection Program payments made to unemployed workers Courtesy of Missouri Department of Labor As more and more Missouri businesses are beginning to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans offered through the Small Business Administration, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR’s) Division of Employment Security (DES) is providing guidance on payments made by employers to unemployed workers. The DES advises businesses taking advantage of the federal PPP loan to notify their employees as soon as possible if they intend to pay employees wages through the PPP loan. If an employer has chosen to receive the PPP loan to pay employees, employees do not have the choice of receiving unemployment benefits rather than the paycheck from the employer. Claimants who are notified that they will receive paychecks from their employer through the PPP loan should report their gross earnings for the week. In most cases, if an individual is being paid by their employer through the PPP and the amount is greater than what is allowed for the individual’s Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) in unemployment, a claimant would be considered employed and therefore not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. Similarly, self-employed individuals receiving a PPP loan should not claim Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits for the same time period. Any unemployment payments made to claimants for the same time period for which they are being paid by an employer through the PPP loan, or any other type of employer payment, would be considered overpaid. If a claimant has already claimed unemployment for those weeks, they should report their earnings immediately to the DES by calling 573-751-4058 and select the appropriate option. A specialist will assist claimants in reporting those earnings. Any improperly received unemployment ing the $600 federal supplement available through Businesses taking advantage of the federal PPP loan should notify employees as soon as possible. (Shutterstock) payments, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), must be paid back by the claimant for those weeks for which the employer includwas also paying them through the PPP. If earnings through the PPP loan are less than the WBA, claimants may be eligible for partial unemployment benefits, but claimants are still required to report those earnings each week the PPP funds were paid. Under the CARES Act, the DES is required to recover overpaid benefits. Failure to repay the overpaid benefits, including the weekly $600 additional federal payment, will result in a reduction of future unemployment benefits. Intentionally misreporting under-reporting earnings, including PPP earnings, to obtain funds under the regular unemployment program or the CARES Act qualifies as fraud. If an individual obtains benefits through fraud, the individual is ineligible for any additional benefit payments, must pay back the benefits received and is subject to criminal prosecution. For guidance on how to report earnings including or which unemployment and federal supplement payments have already been requested or received, visit labor.mo.gov/coronavirus (see questions 4, 5, and 16). For more information, visit labor.mo.gov/coronavirus. Issues in Taney County Public Water District 3 may prompt boil order Special to Branson Globe A large service area of the Taney County Public Water District #3 is experiencing low water pressure. This issue started at about 3:30 PM Sunday. Water was off for the rest of the day and through early Monday morning for customers with Pinehurst, Bethpage and Troon Cir addresses. When water service is restored, a Boil Water Advisory will be in effect until further notice. In addition to the above Advisory, a Boil Water Advisory is in effect for customers along Bee Creek between north of Stinger Dr and South of Rinehart Rd, Calvin Dr, Miami Dr, Yale St, Fountain St and Cannonball Loop. More information about boil order can be found on the Public Water Supply District #3 website. weeks for
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