Whats Next For Unemployment Benefits
As unemployment benefits are distributed in some states, and running out in others, distressed Americans and state budgets are exhausting their options.
And as the 2020 presidential election comes to an end, congressional lawmakers are resuming conversations to pass a second stimulus package, with extended unemployment benefits as pandemic related unemployment programs are set to expire at years end.
Millions Lost Federal Unemployment Benefits On Labor Day Heres What Happened
The massive cutoff of jobless benefits leaves Americans scrambling to make it through the pandemic.
Federal funding for extra unemployment benefits has ended, leaving families in the lurch.
On Labor Day, the expanded unemployment benefit programs rolled out for COVID-19 expired. Those temporary programs included the $300 weekly bonus checks as well as assistance for those who are normally ineligible for unemployment insurance, such as gig workers and the long-term unemployed. More than 11 million people were affected by the cutoff, and roughly 7.5 million people have now lost their benefits entirely. Whatâs worse is that many didnât find out they were no longer eligible until after their coverage ended.
Roughly two dozen states had already stopped the emergency federal programs early over the summer. Out-of-work residents in several states took legal action to try to get their benefits reinstated, arguing that without the aid they were unable to pay basic expenses, including rent and food. Governors fired back, claiming the extra unemployment insurance was discouraging people from taking available jobs.
Yet various studies have confirmed that the thing holding back labor market recovery was not unemployment insurance, but the fact that many workers had safety concerns or family care responsibilities. And that continues to be the case in the COVID-19 era, especially with the uptick in delta-variant cases. Still, the White House does not plan to renew those benefits.
Ui Back Payments With End Of Extended Unemployment Programs
With the expiry of federal enhanced unemployment benefit programs like PUA, PEUC, $300 FPUC and $100 MEUC after September 6th 2021 in all states, there have been a lot of questions around what happens with ongoing, new and past payments.
Ongoing and new weekly payments will end after September 6th . This means a cessation of federal pandemic unemployment benefits for 8 million+ jobless or under-employed claimants which that will result in them losing all current and future benefits under the PUA, PEUC or supplementary $300 FPUC programs.
States like New Jersey and California, have already stated that validated claims after a successful determination or appeal for eligible weeks would be paid out over the next several weeks. Note, per the sections below, that back payments are limited to the program extension coverage periods.
Eligible Claimants should continue to certify for benefits for weeks they are owed unemployment. Any weeks of unemployment that occurred before these programs expire can still be paid retroactively if a claimant is later determined to be eligible for those weeks of benefits. Check your state unemployment website for more details on certifying for retroactive back payments.
Handling of Retroactive Unemployment Benefits
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What Is Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, authorized by the CARES Act and renewed by subsequent legislation and a presidential order, initially provided $600 per week in extra unemployment benefits to unemployed workers in states that opted into the program.
In August 2020, the additional payment was lowered to $300, the amount continued by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through Sept. 6, 2021.
Who Is Eligible For Extended Unemployment Benefits
What benefits are unemployed workers eligible for? Ordinarily, workers in most states are eligible for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, although some states provide less coverage. Montana is the only state that provides more with 28 weeks of unemployment benefits.
In times of high unemployment, the federal government provides funds to the states to extend unemployment insurance programs for additional weeks of benefits beyond what each state offers.
Check with your state unemployment office for information on the availability of extended benefits in your location. You can find a directory of offices on the Department of Labors CareerOneStop Unemployment Benefits Finder.
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No Biden Executive Order States Have Funding To Expand Unemployment Benefits
The Biden Administration has confirmed that they wont push to extend federally funded unemployment benefits past the September 6th expiration date via Executive Order or Congressional action. Instead they are encouraging states with high unemployment to use some of the existing $350 billion in ARPA stimulus allocated for State and Local Fiscal Recovery initiatives to fund enhanced unemployment benefits.
As discussed in this video, there is wide latitude for usage of these funds by state governors and departments, which includes funding emergency unemployment benefits. States who ended participation early in federal unemployment programs could also use these funds to extend/expand benefits if they choose to do so.
Some claimants may be eligible for State Extended Benefits , but after September 4th all claimants must have a regular UI claim to continue receiving benefits. See more in these state specific unemployment pages.
Will I Get Back Payments Automatically Applied Or Manual Claim/actions Required
Once states are able to update their IT systems to pay the extended PEUC and PUA benefits they are automatically adding the extra weeks to eligible claimant accounts. One the claimant claims or certifies for the relevant weeks they should get payment for current and past eligible weeks.
However due to the complexities, unique cases or system limitations some states area asking claimants to take manual actions to get back payments. For example in Pennsylvania , claimants on PEUC are being requested to email the UC Help Desk for backdating retroactive weeks. Similarly in IDES in IL is asking claimants to call their call center representatives to discuss backdating their claims
So essentially if you cannot claim your past weeks online or you have received a current/recent week payment but no back payments for prior eligible weeks or any official notification of delays, then you will likely have to take a manual action via your state UI agency to get your payment.
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Biden Stimulus Package Unemployment Extensions
Congress and President Biden have now passed into law the $2 trillion stimulus package, also known as the American Rescue Plan . It includes further unemployment program extensions until September 6th, 2021 for the PUA, PEUC and FPUC programs originally funded under the CARES act in 2020 and then extended via the CAA COVID Relief Bill. The need for another unemployment stimulus was reinforced by the prevailing high unemployment situation in many parts of the country due to the ongoing COVID related economic fallout.
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If Your Application For Unemployment Benefits Is Denied
If you are denied unemployment benefits, you can appeal the decision. You only have 21 days from the date the denial notice was mailed to submit a written request for appeal. If your written request is late, your appeal will be denied.
The same is true if you receive an over-payment notice. If you receive an over-payment notice, file an appeal within 21 days.
If your application for unemployment benefits is approved, is also possible for your employer to request reconsideration or argue that you are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits. If your employer asks for reconsideration, you will receive notice of this. If you lose the reconsideration, you have 21 days from the date the notice was mailed to submit a written request for appeal. If your written request is late, your appeal will be denied.
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What Are The Requirements For Unemployment Tier 4
Tier 4 added 6 weeks of benefits, although in 2012 this was increased to 16 weeks after a reduction in Tier 3. This tier required a total unemployment rate of at least 8.5 percent in the state of residence, or an insured unemployment rate of at least 6 percent. In 2012, the benefit distribution between Tiers 3 and 4 was altered.
About The Peuc Extension
Usually, you can only collect up to 26 weeks of regular Unemployment Insurance benefits within a benefit year. A benefit year is the 12-month period from the start of your claim.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation provides up to 53 additional weeks of payments if youve used all of your available UI benefits.
- The first 13 weeks are available from March 29, 2020 to September 4, 2021. In UI Online, your claim type will display as PEUC.
- After collecting the first 13 weeks, an additional 11 weeks are available beginning on or after December 27, 2020 to September 4, 2021. Your claim type will display as Extension Tier 2 in UI Online.
- After collecting the first 24 weeks, an additional 29 weeks are available beginning on or after March 14, 2021 to September 4, 2021. Your claim type will display as Extension Tier 2 in UI Online.
To qualify for a PEUC extension, your regular UI claim must have started on July 8, 2018, or after. Depending on when you filed your unemployment claim and if it has expired, you may need to reapply for unemployment.
If you run out of benefits within your benefit yearâ¦
- If you run out of benefits within the benefit year, we will automatically file your PEUC extension on your regular unemployment claim.
- If you are currently receiving a FED-ED extension, you will continue to collect it until it is exhausted. We will file the additional weeks of the PEUC extension after you use all FED-ED benefits.
If your benefit year has expiredâ¦
Payments
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Ohio Department Of Job And Family Services Early End To Extra $300 Weekly Benefits 2021 Pua And Peuc Extensions Remain News And Updates
The unemployment systems and payments for Ohioans is under the purview of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and is funded from the Ohio Unemployment Trust Fund. The money in the fund comes from a tax that employers pay the state. For the past year state unemployment insurance payments have been supplemented by several federally funded pandemic enhanced unemployment benefits programs that were approved across multiple COVID relief stimulus bills. You can see more on each of these below.
How Long Will The Extra Unemployment Last
Once its started, you may wonder how long you can expect the payments to keep coming. The extra $300 was originally scheduled to continue through March 14th. But its retroactive to December 27th. The newly-signed bill extends the extra relief through Labor Day of this year
Freelancers who qualify for PUA will also get the extra money a little longer. The American rescue plan also extends PUA benefits through Labor Day. However, the maximum unemployment benefits you can receive as an unemployed freelancer is 79 weeks. If you live in states with high unemployment rates, that may be extended to 86 weeks.
Unless a bill extending the extra unemployment is passed, on the cut-off date, youll resume receiving your standard unemployment benefits until your unemployment runs out. Currently, no extra compensation is planned after September 6th.
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How Do I Apply For Pua
If you were already filing biweekly for PUA before the program ended, you can begin filing using that same dashboard anytime between Friday, Jan. 22 to Jan. 29. Missing the Jan. 29 deadline means youll have to email to request backdating.
PUA-eligible people who didnt file for the week ending Dec. 26 have to reopen a claim to receive benefits. Select File for Weekly Benefits in your dashboard, and File Your Weekly Certification to Continue Your Claim. Follow the prompt to reactivate your claim from there.
One note from L& I: If you tried to file for PUA after it expired and got an error message, department staff have to resolve your account. Please be patient, the department said in a release.
Aoc Aims To Extend Pandemic Unemployment Insurance: What
Posted: Sep 23, 2021 · The Extend Unemployment Assistance Act of 2021 would amend the CARES Act, signed into law by former President Donald Trump in March 2020. The amendment would change the expiration date of the benefits from Sept. 6, 2021 to February 2, 2022, retroactively reimbursing unemployment recipients for the additional weeks of benefits.
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Some Pennsylvanians Collecting Unemployment Are Still Waiting To Receive Extra $300 Per Week Payments
HARRISBURG, Pa. Some Pennsylvanians on unemployment have already begun receiving an extra $300 per week. It’s part of the extension to the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program passed by U.S. Congress last month.
Unemployment has been an issue for millions of Pennsylvanians since the pandemic began in March. The good news is, if you haven’t started receiving the extra $300 per week payments though UC yet, they are coming soon.
Currently, the payments are only being made to Pennsylvanians collecting traditional unemployment compensation benefits. Those collecting Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, also known as PEUC, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, also known as PUA, have not receive these payments yet. People on those programs have not been able to file claims since December 26th.
If you’re collecting unemployment, have you received the extra $300 per week as part of the stimulus package passed by U.S. Congress in December?
Chelsea Koerbler
The PA Department of Labor and Industry says, it is asking for patience from those claimants and asks they not try and submit new claims. The Dept. of L& I says, the delay is because they are still waiting additional information from the U.S. Department of Labor on the federal changes of these programs.
Department of L& I says, once payments resume, the department will backdate eligible claims to the week of January 2nd, and add the extra $300 to ensure claimants do not miss out on any eligible weeks.
Will I Have A Lapse Or Delay In Getting My Benefits If A Bill Does Pass This Year
Some are arguing that the ongoing delays in Congress passing a new stimulus bill that includes UI benefits extensions may mean a lapse or extended delay in 2021 payments even if a bill is passed in the next week or two. Based on the challenging rollout of other Pandemic unemployment programs this year, worker advocates say it could take weeks for the antiquated state unemployment systems and programs to get updated and process claims/payments for new benefits.
With Democratic candidate Joe Biden winning the Presidential election and Senate Republicans likely to retain control of the Senate , the probability of a stimulus package containing supplementary unemployment benefits happening this year is very remote as Trump and the Democrats have no political incentive to compromise. This means current and retroactive payments under the CARES act enhanced unemployment programs will expire at the end of the year. Further, it is also highly likely that the next stimulus package will be much smaller and more focused. This means any supplementary unemployment benefits will be in the $300 to $400 range and for a short period . More details will come soon and I will post updates as that happens.
See details on when the renewed unemployment stimulus could be paid if passed in the next few weeks. Payments will be retroactive to September 12th, the week after LWA benefits expired.
For additional unemployment resources and state based information see the UI resource page.
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Case Over Ohios $300 Weekly Unemployment Checks Sent Back To County Court
The fight to bring back the $300 weekly additional checks to unemployed Ohioans remains up in the air after an appeals court decided to send the case back to a county judge.
Advocates to revive the pandemic unemployment assistance say this gives reason to start sending the weekly checks again.
The 10th District Court of Appeals ruled that a lower courts decision to deny reinstating the additional unemployment assistance is based on an analysis that is incomplete.
The appeals court says the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas did not address two factors in the case unjustifiable harm to third parties or any public interest served by the injunction.
Zach Schiller with Policy Matters Ohio says theres still hope the additional $300 a week will be paid out retroactively.
I would certainly hope that there could be some benefits that could be paid out beyond those that expire on September 4, Schiller said.
But Attorney General Dave Yost is asking the Ohio Supreme Court to reverse the appeals courts decision.
The state argues that Gov. Mike DeWine had the legal right to stop accepting the federal funds for the program.
Ohio stopped accepting the federal dollars to pay out the checks at the end of June. Gov. Mike DeWine said vaccines and other protection measures were in place that allowed people to go back to work.
In ending those checks, DeWine said the coronavirus vaccine and other protective measures make it safe for people to return to work.
Covid 19 Enhanced Benefits And Payment Issues
Under the CARES act, there are three types of federal unemployment assistance now available:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance : expands eligibility for individuals who are typically ineligible forUnemployment benefits, for example independent contractors, and self-employed and gig workers. In general, PUA provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.
Eligible, approved claimants who have no issues with their claim will receive their very first PUA payment whether its the backdated lump sum payment or a regular weekly payment within one week or less after filing their first certification. Claimants will receive their regular weekly payments within three business days after filing their weekly certification. Questions about your claims should be emailed to . You should expect to receive a response within 7 days. This email address is for PUA questions only. Any emails unrelated to PUA will not receive a response.
Note PUA claimants will notice a federally-required change in the weekly claim application for benefits, which was added to Pennsylvanias PUA application on Friday, June 12. The U.S. Department of Labor requires individuals to certify for each week of PUA benefits claimed that they are unemployed for at least one of the valid COVID-19 reasons that cause their job loss.
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