Self-employed folks are now eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Laura Gardner, manager of the Kalispell Job Service said last week.

People that have already filed a claim at MontanaWorks.gov must now go to the new web portal at mtpua.mt.gov to file their claim.

Claims are backdated to March 15. For example, a hairdresser that had to close shop and is reopening now, can still file a claim and potentially receive benefits for the weeks the shop was closed.

Job Service has boosted staff in recent weeks and is now fielding about 2,000 calls a day, Gardner said. While the Service doesn’t actually file claims for folks, it does offer a lot of helpful information on how to file a claim, Gardner noted. Anyone with unemployment questions is urged to call.Self-employed typically are not eligible for unemployment insurance, but because of the severity of the shutdown, the CARES Act made an exception.

Under the CARES Act legislation, those eligible for pandemic benefits, are also eligible to the additional $600 per week, Gardner noted.

To contact the Job Service, call (406) 758-6200 or email KalispellJSC@mt.gov.