Oklahoma Unemployment Benefits Unaffected As Federal Government Shutdown Looms

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma unemployment benefits will not be impacted if a federal government shutdown occurs Friday says Richard McPherson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. 

"We want to assure the public at large and specifically those impacted by the government shutdown that OESC's resources will still be available to them," Mr. McPherson said. "This will not affect the payment of unemployment benefits or the programs and services currently offered through workforce centers statewide. Our agency will also continue to function normally during the work stoppage."

And for those workers who will be out of a job if the federal government is forced to shut down, McPherson says they can apply for unemployment benefits on or after Thursday, April 14, 2011.

To file a claim for unemployment benefits, Oklahomans can visit unemployment.state.ok.us or call the OESC Unemployment Insurance at 800-555-1554.