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Waiting period for Kansas jobless benefits waived

A signed executive order from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has temporarily waived the week-long wait requirement for claimants seeking unemployment benefits. The order will remain in effect until revoked or the state of emergency expires.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly issued an executive order extending temporary relief from a weeklong waiting requirement for residents who apply for unemployment benefits.

The “waiting week,” according to Kelly’s office, is a required week of nonpayment that needs to be served on new benefit years.

The executive order, signed by Kelly last week, temporarily waives that requirement for all claimants.

“Kansans who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 cannot afford to wait a week to receive the unemployment benefits they need to make rent payments or feed their families,” Kelly said in a news release on Monday. “This executive order will be crucial in our state’s ongoing response to the pandemic and to ensuring unemployed Kansans can access their benefits as soon as possible.”

The order will remain in effect until rescinded or until the statewide State of Disaster emergency expires, whichever comes first.