ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) announced Tuesday that it has reached a notable milestone in processing payments to unemployment insurance claimants during the COVID-19 pandemic. The department says over $3 billion in state and federal unemployment insurance benefits have been paid to New Mexicans since March 1, 2020.

“Governor Lujan Grisham’s entire administration understands how hard the COVID-19 pandemic has been on New Mexicans, and NMDWS has been one of the nation’s leaders in implementing new programs and putting resources into the pockets of our neighbors,” said Bill McCamley in a news release, NMDWS Secretary. “To put this accomplishment into perspective, $3 billion is equivalent to 40% of the entire State’s budget. Staff will continue to do all they can to assist New Mexicans with receiving benefits and seeking employment.”

According to the same news release, the $3 billion includes benefit payments under the following programs:

  • Regular state Unemployment Insurance
  • CARES Act benefits
    • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
      (13-week extension after regular state UI benefits exhaust)
    • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
      (eligible claimants received an additional $600 with their weekly benefit amount from March until the program ended in July 2020)
    • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
      (for the self-employed, gig economy, and contract workers)
  • Federal-State Extended Benefits
    (13-week extension after regular state UI benefits and PEUC benefits are exhausted)
  • Lost Wages Assistance Program
    (eligible claimants received an additional $300 from FEMA from August – September 2020)
  • Worker Pandemic Benefit
    (one-time supplemental unemployment compensation benefit for eligible claimants in the amount of $1,200)
  • Continued Assistance Act
    • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
      (eligible claimants received an additional $300 with their weekly benefit amount starting in January 2021)