Federal Unemployment Benefits Ending
Federal unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act ended on September 4, 2021. You will no longer be paid benefits for the following claim types after September 4:
Note:Federal-State Extended Duration benefits will no longer be payable after September 11.
The federal government does not allow benefit payments to be made for weeks of unemployment after these programs end, even if you have a balance left on your claim. Certification weeks eligible for payment before the end of these programs will be processed. This includes weeks eligible for conditional payments. You will be notified about what to expect based on your claim type.
Note: View the following to learn more about benefits ending and other assistance programs still available:
If your program type is:
- UI, you are receiving regular unemployment.
- PEUC, Extension Tier 2, or Extension Tier 2 , you are receiving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits.
- Extension FED-ED, you have used all PEUC benefits and are now receiving FED-ED extension benefits.
- Disaster Assistance, you are receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance . If you arent receiving PUA, you are receiving Disaster Unemployment Assistance following a declared disaster.
Are There Resources That Can Help Me Find A Job
Several local and Internet resources can help you find a job. Contact your local unemployment office to see if they can help you apply to jobs in your area or begin your search online at CareerOneStop, the Labor Departments jobs website. There are also several online platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster that you can use to apply to available jobs.;
Dol Must Issue Complete And Accurate Guidance About Workers Right To Refuse To Return To Unsafe Work; If It Fails To Do So Congress Must Act
Any steps that states take to reopen their economies must be done with the utmost care for worker health and safety. No worker should be expected to return to a workplace where the employer does not implement sufficient measures to safeguard employees against exposure to COVID-19.
This is both a workers rights and a public health issue. If workers are forced to go back to unsafe conditions, employers negligence could result both in workers getting sick and in COVID-19 spreading further throughout the community, prolonging the duration of the pandemic and the number of people being infected, while also exacerbating economic problems in the future. Rushing to reopen and forcing workers back to unsafe environments will only lengthen the duration of the crisis and worsen long-term economic conditionsparticularly for underpaid workers of color and women of color who are suffering higher rates of infection and mortality in this pandemic due to systemic racism related to healthcare and employment.
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Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program had provided an additional $600 weekly to unemployment benefits, but the benefit expired on July 31, 2020. However, in late December 2020, the FPUC was modified and extended as part of the CAA and later by the American Rescue Plan Act. The FPUC was modified to provide an additional $300 per week in benefits. The funds were available for any weeks of unemployment beginning after Dec. 26, 2020, and ending on or before Sept. 5, 2021.
The reauthorization means that an extra $300 per week would automatically be added to unemployment benefits. However, the new FPUC additional benefit was not payable during the gap from July 31, 2020, to Dec. 26, 2020. In other words, the $600 in extra money that was added to unemployment benefits ended on July 31, 2020, and the $300 didn’t kick in until after Dec. 26, 2020.
Can You Collect Unemployment If You Work Part
Many people think that holding a part-time job after they lose a full-time job will compromise their ability to collect unemployment benefits, but this isn’t necessarily the case. You might be eligible to receive unemployment benefits even if you’re currently working part-time. You might also be eligible if you’ve lost your part-time job.
Eligibility for partial unemployment depends on the state you work in and on your qualifying for unemployment compensation based on your employment history.
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Will Unemployment Be Extended Again In Some States
No state has decided to continue issuing $300 checks beyond the federal deadline.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told states last month they could earmark $350billion of funds from the American Rescue Planto continue paying unemployment benefits locally.
Republicans;have argued that extended unemployment assistance was contributing to the ongoing labor shortage across the country.
While the unemployment rate is currently;5.2%;; well under the record high of 14.7% at the height of the pandemic amid record layoffs and shelter-in-place orders; many have criticized the slowing speed of economic recovery.;
The U.S. Department of Labor reported;the economy added a disappointing 235,000 jobs in August, well under the 750,000 jobs economists had predicted;and the White House expected.
About two-dozen;Republican-led states had cut off enhanced unemployment benefits earlier in the summer:;Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.;
Governors in these states claimed that residents were not taking available jobs because they preferred to collect unemployment instead. The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25, which is about $314 a week; a few dollars over what jobless Americans were collecting.;
American Rescue Plan Act Unemployment Insurance Programs
Overview of Programs
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
- Provides benefits for claimants who are ineligible for regular UI and unemployed due to a COVID-19 related reason. This includes gig workers, independent contractors, the self-employed, and those with insufficient work history.
- Per new USDOL guidelines, eligibility for PUA has been expanded to include:
- Individuals who were denied unemployment benefits because they refused to return to work or refused an offer of work at a worksite that, in either rinstance, is not in compliance with local, state, or national health and safety standards directly related to COVID-19;
- Individuals who provide services to an educational institution or educational service agency and are unemployed or partially unemployed because of volatility in the work schedule that is directly caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency ; and
- Individuals experiencing a reduction of hours or a temporary or permanent layoff as a direct result of the Covid-19 public health emergency.
- Claimants are required to provide proof of their employment in order to be eligible for PUA.
- All PUA claimants will receive an action item in their BEACON portals. Learn more about the proof of employment requirement.
- The PUA program will end in Maryland on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation Program
No Gap in Benefit Eligibility or Delay in Payment
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Statewide Worker Supportive Services
$10 million was provided to help workers impacted by COVID-19. Local Workforce Development Boards will use the funds to provide supportive services, such as childcare, housing, and utility assistance, and transportation costs, to underserved populations, particularly participants in the English Language Learners and ELL Navigator program. Supportive services are available in two tiers:
- Individuals receiving at least 50% of their previous wages either from their employer directly or Unemployment Insurance benefit payments, may receive supportive services totaling $400.
- Individuals who are not receiving at least 50% of their wages from their employer directly, or UI benefit payments may receive supportive services totaling $800.
Can I Still Apply For Unemployment Insurance
Each state handles and regulates its unemployment benefits differently, so whether or not you qualify for unemployment will depend on a variety of factors in your state. According to the Department of Labor, there are three general criteria to be eligible for unemployment benefits:
- Youre unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you can only receive unemployment benefits if theres a lack of available work not if you voluntarily quit or are fired from your job.;
- You have to meet hour and/or wage requirements. Each state has its own guidelines for the amount wages earned or hours worked before you can qualify for unemployment.
- You meet any additional requirements in your state. Additional unemployment requirements can vary significantly depending on where you live.
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Unemployment Insurance Taxes And 1099
Unemployment insurance benefits are subject to federal and state income tax. If you collected unemployment insurance benefits in 2020, you will need the I.R.S. 1099-G tax form to complete your 2020 federal and state tax returns. Please note that when you completed your initial claim application, you chose whether to have any taxes withheld from your weekly benefit amount. If you chose not to withhold any taxes, then you will be required to pay the appropriate taxes on the total benefits received when you pay your taxes.
Marylandâs Division of Unemployment Insurance has issued a 1099-G tax form to all claimants that received unemployment insurance benefits during the calendar year 2020 based on the delivery preference chosen in their BEACON portal.
All claimants will be able to immediately access their 1099-G tax form by visiting their BEACON portal and selecting Correspondences from âYour Options.â Select âSearchâ to display all Correspondences and select â1099â to view. If you selected the U.S. Mail as your preferred method of delivery, then you will also receive a 1099-G tax form in the mail.
To learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit, find locations offering FREE tax preparation through the CASH Campaign of Maryland, get financial help with the cost of health coverage through the Maryland Health Connection, and more, please visit our website. To learn more about the 1099-G tax form, please read our Frequently Asked Questions.
Understanding Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
Because states and businesses have shuttered due to the COVID-19 crisis, millions of laid-off workers in the U.S. continue to depend on unemployment insurance to help cover rent, groceries, and other expenses. But what if you are already unemployed and your benefits have run out?
The CARES Act established the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to allow people who had exhausted their unemployment compensation benefits to receive up to 13 additional weeks of benefits, provided they “are able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work.”
As stated earlier, benefits under the PEUC program were due to expire Dec. 31, 2020, but were extended through Sept. 5, 2021, first as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act , 2021, and then by the American Rescue Plan. Currently, individuals could collect unemployment benefits for a total of 53 weeks . The plan expired on September 5, 2021.
Previously, 26 states elected to end the $300 federal supplement early. The best way to confirm the status of your unemployment benefits is to check with your state’s unemployment office. The Department of Labor lists the contact information for all fifty states’ labor offices on its website.
Stimulus checks and other benefits for qualified individuals passed as part of the Consolidated Appropriations and American Rescue Plan Acts are not unemployment benefits and are administered by the U.S. Treasury Department.
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How Do I Apply For A Waiver
You apply for a waiver by sending a letter to:
Unemployment Insurance CommissionAugusta, ME 04333-0057
The Commission will not accept phone calls requesting a waiver.;;;;;
Your letter to the Commission should include all the reasons why you are unable to repay the overpayment. It should also include your name and mailing address. List the date of each decision that you want waived and each overpayment amount you want waived. The Commission will then send you a form to fill out describing your financial situation within 14 days. Your request for a waiver will be denied if you do not return the form. You can also request a hearing, although the Commission is not required to give you one.
Here are the things the Commission looks at before making a decision:
- Your health and ability to work
- Whether you support family members or others
- Whether you have a job
- Your family income and expenses
- Whether you own property, other than a home, car, and basic household goods
- Debts you and your family owe
- Medical or other expenses you or family members have
- Whether you got similar benefits from another source
- Whether the Commission gave you clear notice that you may have to repay benefits
- Would making you repay defeat the purpose of the unemployment benefits program?
- Is waiver of repayment the fair and right thing to do?
You can also ask for a hearing on your waiver request. But the Commission may not give you a hearing; it may just decide your case based on the written information it has.
Waiting For September 6
The extra $300 a week in federal unemployment benefits along with other federal unemployment benefits will end for all states on September 6. And in the labor market, it should become visible over the latter part of September and in October.
Companies that have been clamoring to hire workers are feverishly waiting for these weeks in September to come around when they hope their search for labor to fill job openings will be met with greater interest. And todays data indicates that many people, once the federal benefits run out, will indeed begin to rejoin the labor force.
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How Much Are Unemployment Benefits In My State
There isnt a universal amount for unemployment benefits in the U.S.; each state uses its own formula. You wont know how much you will receive from your state until after you apply. Typically, the amount you receive in unemployment aid is based on a percentage of your previous 12 months of income. Theres a maximum weekly benefit amount, so you will default to the maximum amount if your weekly payout from your most recent job is larger than that. Unemployment benefits are taxed as if they are wages. Depending on where you live, you may also have to pay state income taxes on your unemployment benefits.
Warning: If You Are Offered Your Old Job Back
Some people may be tempted to stay on unemployment instead of returning to workâat least through the period where FPUC provides that extra payment per week, in addition to each state’s regular unemployment payment. Be wary of following that approach.
Businesses who receive loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program have been pushing for an answer to whether they would lose loan forgiveness if laid-off employees refuse to return when offered their old jobs back . The Treasury Department issued an FAQ saying this would not happen if they make a good-faith, written offer to rehire a laid-off employee and have documented evidence of being turned down by the employee. An “interim final rule” on this issue is coming.
But here’s what that FAQ also said: “Employees and employers should be aware that employees who reject offers of re-employment may forfeit eligibility for continued unemployment compensation.” In other words: Refuse to go back and you could lose your unemployment insurance.
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Update: 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.
Ill continue to post updates as more information comes to hand and you can stay connected via the options below.
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No Chance Of Extending Federal Unemployment Benefits
The expiration of the federal governments $300 weekly boost comes at a chaotic time for many American workers. As the nation grapples with cases of the contagious delta variant and the White House urges Americans to get vaccinated for Covid-19 , several states have reinstated indoor mask mandates to try to minimize the spread of the virus.
Although no large-scale economic shutdowns like those seen at the start of the pandemic have been announced, people job searching or who have just returned to the job market may be feeling less financially stable.
Since many have exhausted their state benefits, a wave of people will lose unemployment benefits once the federal bonus expires. Self-employed and gig workerswho will lose Pandemic Unemployment Insurance benefits created in 2020dont have state programs to fall back on.
In a letter last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh reiterated President Bidens previous message that its appropriate to let benefits end in early September.
But ending the boost doesnt mean the economy is set up for smooth sailing after that.
Even as the economy continues to recover and robust job growth continues, there are some states where it may make sense for unemployed workers to continue receiving additional assistance for a longer period of time. Allowing residents of those states more time to find a job in areas where unemployment remains high, wrote Yellen and Walsh.
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