Medical and Unemployment

Last updated September 4, 2020

Governor, DLIR Secure Additional Week of Federal Unemployment Benefits

Gov. Ige and DLIR Acting Director Anne Eustaquio announced Thursday that Hawaiʻi was approved for an additional week of the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program. This adds one additional week of a $300 plus-up for various types of unemployment benefits on top of the three weeks initially approved by FEMA on August 29. Gov. Ige said, “This will bring an extra week of relief to many who are still unemployed due to the impact of the coronavirus on our economy. I’m taking this action to maximize all available federal funds to help people in Hawaiʻi who are unemployed because of COVID-19.” Eustquio said, “The DLIR is working to build a new program within the unemployment computer system to implement and pay LWA benefits. In conjunction with FEMA and the U.S. Department of Labor concerning program administration, the state will work diligently to complete this process as quickly as possible.”

To qualify for the $300 benefit, recipients must be eligible for at least $100 in weekly benefit and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Payments would be retroactive to August 1, 2020. Claimants will be notified by email and through a news release on how and when to file their self-certification.

Unlike the FPUC program that ended in July, LWA is a grant with a finite amount of funding. When FEMA exhausts its grant funding, it will no longer have the resources to provide LWA payments and the program will end. If the federal program does not exhaust the LWA grant funding, payments will end on December 26, 2020.

Medical Insurance – Medicaid/Quest

Provides eligible low-income adults and children access to health and medical coverage through managed care plans. The QUEST program is designed to provide Quality care, Universal access, Efficient utilization, Stabilizing costs, and to Transform the way health care is provided to recipients.

Ways to Apply:

• Online at: medical.mybenefits.hawaii.gov
• Call Customer Service at: 1-800-316-8005 toll-free TTY users, call 1-800-603-1201 toll-free or 711
• Complete an Application (Fillable PDF), mail or fax to the nearest Medicaid office location.