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Arizona Jobless Benefits Update

Arizona paid nearly $520 million in jobless benefits last week as the Department of Economic Security tries to keep up with weeks of overdue benefits for applicants unemployed by the coronavirus outbreak. 

DES began reviewing applications and making payments through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program to self-employed people, contractors and others who don't normally qualify for jobless benefits. Department officials say more than half a billion dollars was paid to 468,000 people. That number surpasses the prior week's payments of $160 million. About 40,000 applications still await processing.