Louisiana faces an unprecedented level of unemployment benefits paid as a result of the impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This article discusses the state's liberally-granted unemployment benefits and how the price tag could prove quite painful for all Louisiana employers.
In a relatively typical week before the disasters, the Louisiana Department Of Labor paid less than 9,000 unemployment claims and under $4 million in benefits. By the end of October, those weekly numbers swelled to 219,000 claims and $237 million in benefits paid. In late January, the LDOL still handled over 90,000 claims in one week and paid about $20 million in benefits
Although no final decision has been made, some employers could be billed for the full cost of post-storm benefits paid to employees.
This article appeared in the Louisiana Hospital Association's Impact Lawbrief, dated March 31, 2006.