Unemployed Skagway residents are getting an additional financial boost this winter with up to $2,400 a month in municipal unemployment benefits. The money for the program comes from a gift made last year by Norwegian Cruise Lines. The deadline to file for the first round of payments is on Monday afternoon.

This past fall Skagway’s assembly decided about a quarter of the $2 million gift from the cruise company should be made available to the community as unemployment benefits. These will be in addition to any state or federal benefits.

Assemblyperson Reba Hylton says the money will help seasonal workers who’ve been struggling to survive financially with the significant downturn in cruise ship traffic.

“That group of folks got really hit hard by the pandemic, obviously, if you’re working seasonally, that’s because you’re directly working with something related to the cruise ships. And obviously, it’s been a rough couple years. So I’m really happy that this program is being implemented to hopefully help some of the people that have been hit hardest financially by the pandemic,” Said Hylton.

Municipal Treasurer Heather Rodig says anyone can qualify who is currently collecting state or federal unemployment benefits, or if those benefits ran out by September 1, or if they’ve lost work due to COVID-19.

“If you’re sick due to COVID and unable to work, or the business that you work for was closed due to COVID closures, you can collect based on that,” said Rodig.

That benefit wasn’t in the original plan, but as Hylton tells it, it was a great addition with timely impacts.

“I rode the ferry coming back (from holiday travel) and there was an active case on the ferry and that person probably isn’t going to be going to work. And it’s great that they don’t have to worry about that. I mean, traveling in and out of here is hard enough as it is. But if you’re working full time, and you don’t want to use your vacation days, because it’s so time-consuming to come and go into this community anyways. It’s great that they have a little extra cushion of that money,” said Hylton.

The program allocates a little over $100,000 a month. There is a limit of $2,400 per month for anyone claiming the additional unemployment benefits, and the COVID relief benefit is capped at $1,680, which works out to $120 a day for up to 14 days.

There’s no word on how many people will apply each month, though municipal staff are expecting anywhere from 50 to 100 applicants. If fewer people apply and all the money isn’t spent, the assembly will determine another way to get the excess cash into the hands of residents who need it.

Rodig says the applications are available just inside the front door of Skagway’s City Hall, they are also available on the municipal website Skagway.org. She also says there are some documents applicants will need to provide.

“If you’re applying based on your unemployment status, then we need something from the federal or state agency stating your eligibility for unemployment. If you’re applying for closure or sickness, due to COVID, we need a letter from your employer stating the dates that you were sick or unable to work due to a closure. And then all applications must provide some sort of residency proof which we’re considering your Alaska ID with a Skagway address or your voter registration,” said Rodig.

She says the applications will be posted by the end of each month and the application period will be open through the end of the first week of the next month, with checks being cut shortly thereafter. 

Eligible months are December through March and the filing deadline for the December benefit is 4:59 p.m. Monday, January 10.