Stitt Zumwalt
From left to Right: Gov. Kevin Stitt, Director of Human Resources for Georg Fischer Central Plastics Dani Shields, President and CEO of the Oklahoma State Chamber Chad Warmington, and Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt during a May 17, 2021 press conference announcing the state’s Return to Work Incentive plan and the plan to end early expanded unemployment benefits. COURTESY/OESC

As part of its ongoing coverage of the unemployment situation in Oklahoma, The Frontier wants to hear from people who applied for the state’s Back to Work Initiative incentive payments announced earlier this year.

The program offered $1,200 payments from the state, paid for with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, for individuals who had been receiving unemployment payments but returned to employment between May 16 and Sept. 4.

The program was announced at the same time Gov. Kevin Stitt also announced the state would end increased and extended unemployment benefits put in place after the COVID-19 epidemic began in 2020.

To better understand how these incentive payments were awarded, or in many cases not awarded, we want to hear from you. Please fill out the questionnaire below.