How To Apply For Pandemic Unemployment

Three New Unemployment Programs Under The Cares Act

In addition to the FPUC program, the CARES Act extends unemployment benefits through two other initiatives: the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Here is how they compare:

*A number of states have chosen to end their enrollment in these programs early. Check with your state’s unemployment office to determine the duration of your benefits.

Pua Claims Filed On Or After January 31 2021

If you filed or moved to a new PUA claim on or after January 31, 2021, you must provide proof of employment, self-employment, planned commencement of prospective employment or self-employment. You must provide the proof within 21 days of the date you filed your claim.;

You must provide proof for calendar year 2020 that demonstrates the existence of employment between January 1, 2020, and the date you filed your claim. Your documentation of employment or self-employment does not need to cover the entire period that you were working.;

If you do not send us proof of employment within the deadline, you will be found ineligible for benefits beginning December 27, 2020, and have to repay any benefits you received. You have the right to appeal any decision holding you ineligible for benefits. The requirement to provide proof was established by law and cannot be appealed.

File Your Weekly Claims

*** IMPORTANT: to get any money, you must file weekly claims. ***

To start getting unemployment benefits, you need to file a weekly claim. This is different than the initial claim. You have to file both to get your money.

A weekly claim is how we figure out how much money to send you for that week. A week is Sunday through Saturday. You cant submit a weekly claim until the week is over.

To keep getting benefits, you need to file a weekly claim every week. File a weekly claim even if you worked that week. You need to report your hours and earnings for any work you did that week.

File your weekly claims even if you dont know if your application has been approved yet. It can take at least four weeks for us to process your application. If your application is approved, we will send you money for all the past weeks you were eligible for, as long as you filed your weekly claims.

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Pup And Travel Abroad

If you are getting PUP, you must notify the Department of Social Protectionbefore going abroad. You can contact the Income Support Helpline on 0818 800024 and a note can be made on your PUP claim. If you are abroad for more than 2weeks, you will not continue to be eligible for PUP unless the extended absencehas been approved.

What If I Do Not Have Any 2019 Income Documents

If you received an email to submit income documents through UI OnlineSM, and you do not have any, select No to the question, Do You Have Documents to Upload?

If you received a notice in the mail, write No income documents for 2019 above the signature line before you sign, date, and mail the form back to us.

Once we receive your response, we will review your claim and make a decision about your benefit amount. If there are any changes to your existing PUA weekly benefit amount, we will send you more information.

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Enhanced Child Tax Credit

Since the enhanced child tax credit used distribution channels the IRS developed while it was handing out stimulus checks, if youre eligible for this benefit , youre probably already benefiting in the form of advance payments in your checking account.

• Who’s Not Eligible for Child Tax Credit Payments

But its important to remember that fundamentally, the Enhanced Child Tax Credit was designed as pandemic relief and to reduce child poverty. People with children may be eligible for an enhanced tax credit of $3,000 or $3,600 per child, depending on the childs age.

If you think you’re eligible, but not getting these payments, use our 2021 Child Tax Credit Calculator to check your situation.;

Los Angeles Region Worker Supportive Services And Rapid Response Services For Businesses

$10.4 million was provided to help workers and businesses in industries most impacted by COVID-19 including entertainment, hospitality, travel and leisure.

Local Boards will distribute funds to community-based organizations and non-profits who will assist workers with:

• Job matching, applying for unemployment benefits, and job training for in-demand jobs during COVID-19.
• Supportive services to help with child care, utility assistance, rent, clothes, and transportation/fuel costs.

Funding will also support Rapid Response services for local businesses to help with:

• Talent recruitment for companies with the increasing demand for services such as food services and delivery services.
• Business outreach by phone/WebEx and social media to inform businesses of resources on tax relief, work share, Unemployment Insurance, and Federal stimulus package information through the Small Business Administration and Governorâs Office of Business Services .

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American Rescue Plan Act

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed into law. ARPA extends certain federal unemployment programs including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance , Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation , and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation . These provisions will bring continued benefits to unemployed Arizonans.

Learn more about ARPA.

How To Apply For Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

To apply for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, you must file a claim for regular benefits with the UI program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, you can file a claim in person, online, or over the phone; most states recommend filing online. When you file a claim, you must provide your Social Security number, contact information, and details about your former employment. To find out the rules in your state, check with your state’s unemployment insurance program.

Under the current FPUC program, states administer an extra $300 weekly payment to eligible people who receive regular unemployment benefits , as well those collecting benefits from the following programs:

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
• Payments under the Self-Employment Assistance program

When states provide the extra payment, eligible people will receive retroactive payments.

FPUC was extended by the American Rescue Plan to go until September 6, 2021, however, a number of states have chosen to end their enrollment in the program earlyâmeaning your $300 supplement may run out before then. Check with your state’s unemployment office to determine the duration of your benefits.

Under the CARES Act, states that waive their usual one-week “waiting period” for benefits will be fully reimbursed by the federal government for benefits paid that week, plus any associated administrative expenses.

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Another Pandemic Healthcare Benefit: Enhanced Obamacare Assistance

In addition to the assistance for people who were unemployed, Congress increased subsidies for plans under the ACA in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Under this new pandemic benefit, more people qualify for help in paying for health insurance, meaning lower premiums for many, depending on household income.

This is intended to extend health insurance to a significant portion of uninsured Americans. But Cox co-authored a study in March that found that millions of people who are eligible for free or low-cost coverage arent taking advantage of it. Cox said the researchers havent updated their data since earlier this year, but its still likely there are millions uninsured who could be getting free or subsidized coverage.

The benefit is set to expire at the end of 2022, but there is talk in Congress of making it permanent, according to Cox.;

How To Get Cobra

Group health plans must give covered employees and their families a notice explaining their COBRA rights. Plans must have rules for how COBRA coverage is offered, how beneficiaries may choose to get it and when they can stop coverage. For more COBRA information, see COBRA Premium Subsidy. The;page links to information about COBRA including:

• 3 Ways the American Rescue Plan Helps People Who Lost Jobs Afford Health Coverage]

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Other Types Of Benefits And Programs For The Unemployed

Educational Help

Federal agencies offer many unemployment education and training programs. They are generally free or low cost to the unemployed.

Self-Employment Help

Self-employment assistance programs help unemployed workers start their own small businesses. Delaware, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon offer this program.

Requesting A Review Of Your Pup Rate

If you feel that it may make a difference to your rate, you can request areview of your payment from the DSP.

To request a review of your rate, you should email You can also writeto PUP Rerate Requests, Department of Social Protection, Intreo Centre, CorkRoad, Waterford. You should include all supporting documentation with yourrequest.

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How To Submit Your Proof Of Employment

PUA claimants should submit their proof of employment using TWCs UI Submission Portal. Select DUA Proof of Employment at Time of Disaster from the Type of Submission drop-down menu. For more information see Sending TWC Proof of Employment.

If you cannot use the online portal you can submit the proof by fax or mail. Due to the heavy volume of mail, processing the proof received by fax or mail will be delayed.;

Mail or fax proof of employment to:

Texas Workforce Commission

Acceptable forms of proof of employment include:

• paycheck stubs
• earnings and leave statements showing the employers name and address;
• bank records if your paycheck was direct deposit
• W-2 forms;
• 1099s
• Income tax return for the applicable tax year, must include the;IRS;Tax Form 1040 and schedule C, F, or SE

Proof of Self-Employment

Acceptable forms of proof of self-employment include:

• state or federal employer identification numbers
• business licenses
• business receipts/invoices
• signed affidavits from persons verifying the individuals self-employment
• Income tax return for the applicable tax year, must include the IRS Tax Form 1040 and schedule C, F, or SE
• bank statement

Acceptable proof of prospective employment includes one of the following:

• letters offering employment
• statements/affidavits by individuals verifying an offer of employment.;

Proof of Prospective Self-Employment

Acceptable proof of prospective self-employment; includes one of the following:

Reapplying For Unemployment Insurance Benefits

If you are not able to file your weekly claim certification this week, please check your BEACON portal to see if you have an âApply for Benefitsâ button. If you have this button, there could be several reasons including, but not limited to:

• You did not apply for benefits last week,
• Your benefit year has expired , or
• Your monetary eligibility needs to be redetermined.

Even if your account is active and you have a balance, if you have an âApply for Benefitsâ button, then you need to re-apply for benefits to be able to file your weekly certification as required by Maryland unemployment law and federal program rules.

If you wish to re-apply for benefits, you should access your BEACON portal from an internet browser, click on the âApply for Benefitsâ link on your home page, and follow the steps. You cannot complete this process from the MD Unemployment for Claimants Mobile App.

Reminder: Claimants have through Saturday, June 12 to file their weekly certification for the week. If you have successfully filed your weekly certification this week, please ignore this message. There are no issues with the BEACON system.

Reapplying for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in BEACON 2.0 FAQs

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Provide More Information If Needed

You may get notice in the mail that asks for more information to process your claim. If you received an award notice that shows $0 in wages, you may still qualify for benefits. Situations that take more time to resolve include:

Sometimes this can happen if:

• We have no record or only a partial record of your wages.
• You were misclassified by your employer as an independent contractor instead of an employee.
• Your employer accidentally reported wage information incorrectly to us.

If you believe our record of your wages isnt accurate, you can contact us to investigate. The best way to request an investigation is to;log in to your UI Online account;and select;Contact Us. Give a brief summary of why you disagree with the notice and information about your wages. You can also correct the wages on the award notice and send;copies of your W-2, Form 1099, or a paycheck stub to the address on the front of the notice.

We will follow up with you and your employer for any details needed to make a determination. It typically takes us a couple of weeks to collect the information, investigate, and notify you of your eligibility for benefits. You will receive a call from the EDD. Return any messages quickly so we can determine if you qualify for benefits.

If youre self-employed or an independent contractor and have not contributed to the state unemployment fund, you may still qualify for benefits with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

Other Important Information For Claimants

• Child support obligations must be deducted from PUA payments in the same way that they are to regular unemployment insurance benefits.
• PUA payments are taxable. These payments will be included on your 1099G that you receive for the 2020 tax year. Taxes will be withheld from PUA payments if you have elected to have taxes withheld from your unemployment insurance benefits.
• Notice to Claimants with a CARES Act Overpayment: A non-fraud overpayment of CARES Act benefits does not necessarily make you ineligible for future CARES Act benefits, even if future benefits may be offset to repay the overpayment. If you have received a notice of a non-fraud overpayment of CARES Act benefits, you are still eligible to apply for future benefits.

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Which Groups Of Individuals Serving Penalty Weeks On Their Regular Ui Claim Should Receive Edd Notices And Self

The EDD has provided information and notices about potential eligibility for PUA benefits to individuals who became unemployed on or after January 27, 2020 , but who were disqualified from receiving regular UI benefits because they were serving out a UI penalty. Due to the date these individuals became unemployed, they are more likely to have been unemployed because of one of the COVID-19-related reasons, and are potentially eligible for PUA benefits.

Check Your Ui Online Account

Log in to your UI Online account to check for updates. This includes your benefit payments and when its time to certify for your next two weeks of benefits.

Once you receive your debit card, payments should be posted to your card about three days after we receive your certification. Benefit payments by check will take a few more days to arrive in the mail.

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What Can The Claimant Do If He Or She Believes A Job Offer Is Not For Suitable Employment

If a state raises an issue of failure to accept suitable employment, the state unemployment insurance agency must provide the claimant with an opportunity to provide his or her side of the story and to rebut any evidence provided to the state before making a final determination.

Most state laws allow for refusal of suitable employment for good cause, which is defined in state law. Criteria for good cause may include, but are not limited to, the degree of risk to an individuals health, safety, and morals; the individuals physical fitness, prior training, experience, and earnings; the length of unemployment and prospects for securing local work in a customary occupation; and the distance of the available work from the individuals residence.

Claimants may file an appeal if they disagree with a states determination regarding suitable work. Please contact your state unemployment insurance agency for additional information.

How To File A Claim

The fastest way to apply for benefits is through UI OnlineSM, just as you would for regular UI benefits. You can also apply for PUA by phone, mail, or fax.

If you qualify for regular UI, do not file a PUA claim at this time. If you filed for UI and received a notice that you have $0 in benefits available, visit Step 1 in Unemployment Claims for what to do next.

After you file, refer to our step-by-step claims process. Youll learn what to expect and the actions you need to take during your claim to receive benefit payments.

Note: If you have a PUA claim, your claim type in UI Online will display as Disaster Assistance.

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I Am About To Exhaust My Regular Unemployment Compensation Benefits What Kinds Of Relief Does The Cares Act Provide For Me

Under the CARES Act states are permitted to extend unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks under the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. PEUC benefits are available for weeks of unemployment beginning after your state implements the new program and ending with weeks of unemployment ending on or before December 31, 2020. The program covers most individuals who have exhausted all rights to regular unemployment compensation under state or federal law and who are able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work as defined by state law. Importantly, the CARES Act gives states flexibility in determining whether you are actively seeking work if you are unable to search for work because of COVID-19, including because of illness, quarantine, or movement restrictions.

In addition, if you have exhausted the 13 weeks of additional benefits available under the PEUC program, you may be eligible to continue receiving benefits under the PUA program. PUA benefits are available for a period of unemployment of up to 39 weeks, meaning that if you have exhausted regular UC and PEUC benefits in fewer than 39 weeks, you may be eligible to receive assistance under PUA for the remaining weeks within PUAs 39 week period.