Kentucky Offering One-Time $1,500 Back To Work Incentive

The state plans to pay as many as 15,000 Kentuckians to rejoin the workforce.

(Frankfort, Ky.) – Out of work Kentuckians are being offered an incentive to rejoin the workforce.

Governor Andy Beshear announced Thursday a new plan to pay as many as 15,000 Kentuckians on unemployment insurance a one-time $1,500 bonus if they rejoin the workforce by July 30.

Beshear has set aside $22.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to pay for the program to incentivize more people to leave unemployment insurance and begin filling job vacancies.

“We want every Kentuckian working and participating as we sprint out of this pandemic with our economy booming,” Gov. Beshear said. “We wanted the right solution – not a red state or blue state solution – to thread this needle right to energize our thriving economy while looking out for those still trying to emerge from this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic who desperately need help. This is a step in the right direction for our people, our economy and our employers.”

To qualify for the one-time bonus, an applicant must be a Kentucky resident, be employed by a Kentucky business between June 24 and July 30 and have an active unemployment insurance claim as of June 23, 2021.

Employers will be responsible for completing an online application verifying that employees accepted employment between the dates above and verify that employees worked 120 hours in the four weeks following new employment.

More information about the Back to Work Incentive is available at www.teambacktowork.ky.gov. Applications will be available beginning August 1.

The deadline to apply is October 1.