IMPORTANT NEWS: JOCKEYS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

April 2, 2020- During these challenging and unprecedented times, many jockeys are unable to earn a living as the tracks where they typically ride have been shut down due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Guild would like to advise our members that FOR THE FIRST TIME, JOCKEYS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”).

The CARES Act includes expanded rights to unemployment compensation for individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to various reasons related to the coronavirus. This assistance is known as “PUC” – Pandemic Unemployment Compensation. Notably, the CARES Act provides a special unemployment compensation program for gig workers, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals, such as jockeys. The United States Department of Labor is currently in process of developing guidelines for the qualifications.

The CARES Act also provides for payments of an additional $600 per week in unemployment compensation benefits above and beyond what an individual is otherwise entitled to under state law, for up to four months. Further, the CARES Act extends an individual’s ability to receive unemployment benefits to a total of 39 weeks, through December 31, 2020.

Most states have waived the usual one week waiting period because the federal government is funding the costs. Jockeys may be eligible to apply for benefits from more than one state BUT CAN ONLY APPLY FOR PUC IN ONE STATE. Unemployment benefits vary from state to state so it is essential for you to verify the requirements and procedures in the states where you regularly ride to determine which state will provide you with the best benefit.

States have been advised that the money under the CARES Act should be available around mid-April. However, please note that some states are not yet accepting applications because the regulations to implement the CARES Act for independent contractors have not been published. You should contact the State Unemployment Insurance Office in the state where you will apply to determine if they are accepting applications from independent contractors. You may need to use your 2019 tax returns or other documents to show your average weekly income to determine the amount of your regular benefit under your state’s reemployment benefits.

Please visit the Guild’s web site (www.jockeysguild.com) for a listing of State Unemployment Office websites. In most states you can apply online.

The Guild will continue to keep our members updated on our website as we work through this time. May all of you and your families stay safe and healthy.

NOTICIA IMPORTANTE: JOCKEYS SON ELEGIBLES AHORA PARA SEGURO DE DESEMPLEO ESTATAL

2 de abril de 2020 - Durante estos tiempos desafiantes y sin precedentes, muchos jinetes son incapaces de ganarse la vida, ya que las pistas donde suelen montar se han cerrado debido a la COVID-19 Pandemia. El Guild desea dejarle saber a nuestros miembros que POR PRIMERA VEZ, LOS JOCKEYS SON ELEGIBLES PARA EL SEGURO DE DESEMPLEO ESTATAL bajo la Ayuda de Coronavirus, Alivio, y Acto de Seguridad Económico (“SE PREOCUPA el Acto”). El Acto de CUIDADO incluye derechos ampliados a la compensación por desempleo para individuos que están desempleados, parcialmente desempleados, o incapaces de trabajar debido a varios motivos relacionados con el coronavirus. Esta ayuda es conocida como “PUC” – Compensación por Desempleo Pandémica. Notablemente, el Acto de CUIDADO proporciona un programa de compensación por desempleo especial para trabajadores de calesa, contratistas independientes, e individuos independientes, como jockeys. El Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos está actualmente en proceso de elaborar pautas para las cualificaciones.

El Acto de CUIDADO también prevé pagos de $600 adicionales por semana en beneficios de compensación por desempleo por encima y más allá de lo que una persona tiene derecho de otra manera bajo la ley estatal, por hasta cuatro meses. Además, la Ley CARES extiende la capacidad de una persona para recibir beneficios de desempleo a un total de 39 semanas, hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2020.

La mayoría de los estados han desistido al período de espera habitual de una semana porque el gobierno federal está financiando los costos. Jockeys pueden ser elegibles para solicitar beneficios de más de un Estado PERO SOLO PUEDE RECIBIR BENEFICIOS DE DESEMPLEO DE UN ESTADO. Los beneficios de desempleo son diferentes en los diversos estados, así que averiguase qué estado de donde usted trabaja regularmente le dará el mejor beneficio de seguro de desempleo semanal.

Los estados han sido informados que el dinero conforme al Acto de CUIDADO debería estar disponible alrededor de mediados de Abril. Sin embargo, tenga en cuenta que algunos estados aún no están aceptando solicitudes porque las regulaciones para implementar El Acto de CUIDADO para contratistas independientes no se han publicado. Debe comunicarse con la Oficina Estatal de Seguro de Desempleo en el estado donde solicitará para determinar si están aceptando solicitudes de contratistas independientes. Es posible que necesite usar sus declaraciones de impuestos del 2018 u otros documentos para mostrar su ingreso semanal promedio para determinar el monto de su beneficio regular bajo los beneficios de reempleo de su estado.

Visite la página web del Guild (www.jockeysguild.com) para obtener una lista de sitios web de la Oficina Estatal de Desempleo. En la mayoría de los estados se puede aplicar en línea.

El Guild continuará manteniendo a nuestros miembros actualizados en nuestra página web a medida que trabajemos a través de este tiempo.

Les deseamos a todos ustedes y sus familias se mantengan seguros y saludables.

Click the link below to see a list of unemployment applications for your state (Or Canada)

Unemployment compensation online applications

Jockey Luis Saez won the Grade I Belmont Stakes aboard Essential Quality June 5 at Belmont Park. NYRA/Chris Rahayel photo

Jockey Joe Rocco, Jr. won his 1,500th career race on May 20 aboard She's All Wolfe at Churchill Downs. Coady Photo

Travel Column with Florent Geroux aboard wins the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks March 20. Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges

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Thoroughbred Jockeys' Leaderboard Mount Earnings
1. Joel Rosario	$32,944,478
2. Irad Ortiz, Jr.	$29,274,435
3. Luis Saez	$26,187,754
4. Jose L. Ortiz	$25,000,069
5. Flavien Prat	$23,099,813
6. Tyler Gaffalione	$19,232,182
7. Florent Geroux	$19,021,642
8. John Velazquez	$17,738,203
9. Ricardo Santana, Jr.	$16,976,612
10. Manuel Franco	$14,043,066
As of 12/31/21 *non-Member

Thoroughbred Jockeys' Leaderboard Wins
1. Irad Ortiz, Jr.	336
2. Paco Lopez	323
3. Luis Saez	293
4. Tyler Gaffalione	269
5. Juan C. Diaz	263
6. Arnaldo Bocachica	260
7. Tim Thornton	259
8. Jose L. Ortiz	256
9. Flavien Prat	245
10. Joel Rosario	228
As of 12/31/21 *non-Member

Quarter HOrse Jockeys' Leaderboard Mount Earnings
1. Adrian A. Ramos*	$3,666,218
2. Everardo Rodriguez	$3,410,643
3. Francisco Calderon	$3,404,444
4. Juan Pulido*	$3,020,140
5. Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo*	$2,252,408
6. Jesus Rios Ayala	$2,047,466
7. David A. Alvarez*	$1,982,061
8. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.	$1,936,274
9. Eduardo Nicasio	$1,721,623
10. Noe Garcia, Jr.	$1,687,244
Through 12/31/21 *non-Member

Quarter Horse Jockeys' Leaderboard Wins
1. Everado Rodriguez	147
2. David A. Alvarez*	120
3. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr.	89
4. Jesus Valenzuela	89
5. Francisco Calderon	84
6. Luis L Vivanco	74
7. Ubaldo Luna	73
8. Juan Pulido	70
9. Juan Francisco Garcia, Jr.	70
10. Cristian R. Esqueda*	66
Through 12/31/21*non-Member

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