The number of Arizonans out of work and seeking benefits took another big jump, more than tripling in a week.
New figures from the state Department of Economic Security show there were 88,592 initial claims filed in the week ending Friday. That compares with 29,333 the week before — and fewer than 3,000 at the end of February.
The numbers represent a tsunami of sorts at the agency: Those new claims are nearly triple the number of people who already were getting unemployment insurance at the end of last week.
And the 30,309 continuing claims for the week ending March 28 is itself a 73% increase in the number of people who were collecting benefits the week before that.
All that is bound to eventually take a toll on the nearly $1.1 billion the state has in a special trust account financed by a tax that employers pay on the first $7,000 of each worker’s salary.
Total benefits for last week were $3.24 million, compared with $3.04 million the week before. And none of that counts the latest new claims.
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Arizona law says that those laid off through no fault of their own are entitled to one-half of what they were making. But Arizona sets a maximum payment of $240 a week; only Mississippi at $235 is lower.
Gov. Doug Ducey, asked about that last week, noted that the federal rescue package approved by Congress adds up to $600 a week more. Those benefits are expected to last up to four months.
To ensure state eligibility for the federal dollars, the Legislature approved a measure that expands eligibility to cover those who cannot work because of COVID-19, whether because they have it, they have been furloughed, or they are at home taking care of someone because of the virus.
That overrides existing regulations that require people to actively be looking for work, making at least four contacts a week, to receive the weekly checks.
That new Arizona law also waives the existing requirement that makes newly unemployed people ineligible for the first week after being laid off. Ducey issued an executive order of his own with similar provisions.
Photos for March 27: Tucson gets by during coronavirus pandemic
Tucson, coronavirus, tattoos
Updated
Mar 27, 2020
The doors are still open at Sacred Art Tattoo on 1024 E. 6th St., as of Friday, March 27, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Seth Nadeau, left, and his son Anthony Nadeau get out of the house for a couple of game so horse under cloudy skies on the courts at Christ Church United Methodist, March 27, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 1, 2020
Victoria Quintero, 5, holds her sign as her mother, Vanessa, waves to the teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School during a Car Parade through the neighborhood on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School cheer and wave to their students during a Car Parade through the neighborhood on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 22, 2020
Standing, Kai Morales, left, and his twin brother, Kristian, hold up their signs as Karim, 9, and their mother, Angelica, sit in the bed of the truck along W. Nebraska Street during a Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Students of John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School stand along W. Nebraska Street and wave to their teachers during a Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
Updated
Mar 27, 2020
Teachers and administrators from John E. White Elementary School and Pistor Middle School line up along W. Canada Street before the start of their Car Parade on March 27, 2020. The teachers and administrators drove their cars through the neighborhood to say hello to their students from their cars.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
The noted bull testicles on the statue outside Casa Molina at Speedway and Wilmot, usually painted in various schemes and wild colors, now sporting a surgical mask.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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May 3, 2020
Pfc. Gustavo Escalera, of the Arizona National Guard, waves in the next car to his station at the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank on March 27, 2020. The Arizona National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill and handout food boxes for people in Tucson and five counties in southern Arizona. Thirty troops arrived in Tucson on Thursday and another thirty are expected. According to Spc. John Randall, the troops are here to fill in the gaps in logistics to help keep up the production of putting together and handing out food boxes.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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May 3, 2020
Spc. Nicholas McCormick, of the Arizona National Guard, waits for the next car to pull up at the Southern Arizona Community Food Bank.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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May 3, 2020
Spc. Emilio Maldonado, of the Arizona National Guard, pushes a several bags down an assembly line at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on March 26, 2020. The Arizona National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill food boxes for people in Tucson and five counties in southern Arizona.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 2, 2020
Spc. Gabriel Molina, of the Arizona National Guard, fills bags with food items on an assembly line at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on March 26, 2020. The Arizona National Guard has been activated to help the demanding need to fill food boxes for people in Tucson and five counties in southern Arizona.
Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Hoover Zhu, owner of Old Peking, poses for a portrait inside a closed Old Peking at Old Peking , 2522 E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Zhu closed Old Peking on Thursday March 25 due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Chef Du Liyuan makes a take out order at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant, is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Aug 26, 2020
Before Tuesday’s change in policy, Arizona residents traveling to New York had to quarantine for 14 days. New Jersey and Connecticut also removed their travel restrictions.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 14, 2020
An empty baggage carousel at the Tucson International Airport, on March 26, 2020.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Wendy Fu, owner of Chef Wang, processes a take out order at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Chairs tilted in on tables at La Cocina located at 201 N. Court Avenue, on March 26, 2020.
Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 11, 2020
Sun sets over a dark and locked Hi Corbett Stadium, home to the Arizona Wildcats baseball team, as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Apr 9, 2020
Downtown Congress Streets is mostly deserted just before 8 p.m. as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
The lanterns from the Reid Park Zoo's Asian Lantern Festival sit in a fenced compound after the zoo's closure ended the display weeks early as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 30, 2020
Residents stay spaced while out getting some air and watching the Rillito River flow near Craycroft as the city begins its second week under COVID19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Jayden Simmons, right, 12, runs football drills with coach Bobby Rodriguez, owner of Jet Sports Training, at Silverlake Park, in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Due to gyms being closed, Rodriguez is taking classes and training outside to parks with little to no equipment.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
A man wearing a mask watches traffic go by while waiting for the bus on N. Alvernon Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020.
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, coronavirus
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Mar 27, 2020
Gloves, a mask and hand sanitizer sit on the counter at Chef Wang, 356 E. Grant Rd., in Tucson, Ariz., on March 25, 2020. Chef Wang, a local Chinese restaurant is open for take out but is considering closing due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).
Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star