PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – Starting Aug. 1, 2020, the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation will again be requiring state residents filing for unemployment to actively search for work.

The work search requirement was waived back in March because of the large number of layoffs caused by businesses closing because of COVID-19.

Beginning the week ending Aug. 8, claimants receiving benefits will be required to verify at least two work searches occurred each week when requesting their weekly benefit payment

Secretary Marcia Hultman says businesses are returning to normal and in need of quality applicants. She says they have employment services, education and training programs to help job seekers connect with great opportunities.

Examples of qualified work search activities include submitting a job application online or in-person, attending a job interview or participating in a DLR approved reemployment services program, such as a job search workshop.

Hultman says the database at sdjobs.org has over 19,000 listings. She says employment specialists can meet with you virtually to help navigate the system and determine the best fit based on your needs, interests and experience.

Individuals receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance who are self-employed or independent contractors are not required by federal law to conduct work searches and will continue to receive a waiver. Also exempted are individuals with an employer-submitted recall date.

In addition, DLR reminds claimants the last payable benefit week for the additional $600 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation is the week ending this coming Saturday (July 25, 2020).