Self-employed hold out hope for new OED program

Self-employed hold out hope for new OED program

Newswatch 12's alicia rubin spoke with a klamath falls woman today who was asked to be a part of the trial program before it becomes available across the state.

That program announcement came after four weeks of no answers and unemployment denials for many self-employed, contract and gig workers across the state.

Jennifer met with me today to explain what it's been like for someone in her shoes.

Jennifer owns and is the sole employee at mama bear's beauty boutique in klamath falls.

She shut down her business on march 19th in an effort to protect her customers but now over a month later she's still waiting and applying for unemployment aid.

Jennifer says: the first information i heard from the employment department after i filed my initial claim it took four weeks and it was just being told i was denied shortly afterwards she was contacted by the oregon employment department.

Jennifer says: i did last thursday receive an email from the oregon employment department and i was chosen to participate in the pilot program for self-employed she submitted the application and accompanying paperwork and income verification but has yet to hear back and the waiting is taking a toll.

Jennifer says: when i shut my business down my family my household lost over 2/3 of our household income--butted--it's been hard we've been pinching pennies making up new recipes for casseroles and anything that we can throw together to add to the stress, jennifer says even if she opened back up tomorrow she doesn't know if she'll see her income pick back up jennifer says: "if if they told me that i could open tomorrow i could open my doors i have everything i need to keep everyone protected and be sanitary but then there's also the factor will my clients be able to afford to come in and have their services" jennifer says she will be implementing protection protocols when she does reopen including wearing a mask and gloves, requiring her customers to wear a mask and scheduling more time between customers to allow for more deep cleaning.

Reporting live from home, alicia rubin,