
Can I apply for Pua after it expires?
The PUA program expired on the week ending Sept. 4, 2021. You can apply through Oct. 6, 2021, but the week ending Sept. 4 is still the last payable week for PUA benefits. That means, if you apply any time between Sept. 4 and Oct. 6, 2021, you can backdate your claim.
Is Am I eligible for Pua?
Am I Eligible for PUA? Reader Question: I never worked. I want to work now but cannot due to Covid-19. Am I eligible for PUA? Yes, you should be eligible if you meet the rest of the criteria for PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance).
Can I collect Pua benefits retroactively?
However, PUA benefits are only payable retroactively through the week ending September 4th, 2021. You can file a claim for PUA only after you applied for regular unemployment insurance benefits and have been denied.
How many weeks of PUA benefits can you get?
If you qualify for PUA, you may be eligible to receive: 1 Up to 79 weeks of PUA benefits. 2 An additional $600/week for weeks ending 4/5/2020 to 7/26/2020. 3 An additional $300/week for weeks ending 1/3/2021 to 9/5/2021.

Are individuals eligible for PUA if they quit their job because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
There are multiple qualifying circumstances related to COVID-19 that can make an individual eligible for PUA, including if the individual quits his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19. Quitting to access unemployment benefits is not one of them.
What is the maximum Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits (PEUC) eligibility in weeks?
No PEUC is payable for any week of unemployment beginning after April 5, 2021. In addition, the length of time an eligible individual can receive PEUC has been extended from 13 weeks to 24 weeks.
Can self-employed individuals qualify for PUA benefits?
States are permitted to provide Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) to individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or who otherwise would not qualify for regular unemployment compensation.
Are self-employed, independent contractor and gig workers eligible for the new COVID-19 unemployment benefits?
See full answerSelf-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and people who have not worked long enough to qualify for the other types of unemployment assistance may still qualify for PUA if they are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of the applicable state law and certify that they are unemployed, partially unemployed or unable or unavailable to work for one of the following COVID-19 reasons:You have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have symptoms, and are seeking a medical diagnosis.A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.You are caring for a family member of a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.A child or other person in your household for whom you have primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of COVID-19 and the school or facility care is required for you to work.
Is there additional relief available if my regular unemployment compensation benefits do not provide adequate support?
See full answerThe new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC (including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), PEUC, PUA, Extended Benefits (EB), Short Time Compensation (STC), Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and payments under the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program). This benefit is available for weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which your state entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor and ending with weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020.
What kinds of relief does the CARES Act provide for people who are about to exhaust regular unemployment benefits?
Under the CARES Act states are permitted to extend unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks under the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program.
Can I get unemployment assistance if I am partially employed under the CARES Act?
A gig economy worker, such as a driver for a ride-sharing service, is eligible for PUA provided that he or she is unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work for one or more of the qualifying reasons provided for by the CARES Act.
How suitable employment is connected to unemployment insurance eligibility?
Most state unemployment insurance laws include language defining suitable employment. Typically, suitable employment is connected to the previous job’s wage level, type of work, and the claimant’s skills.Refusing an offer of suitable employment (as defined in state law) without good cause will often disqualify individuals from continued eligibility for unemployment compensation.
Can I remain on unemployment if my employer has reopened?
No. As a general matter, individuals receiving regular unemployment compensation must act upon any referral to suitable employment and must accept any offer of suitable employment. Barring unusual circumstances, a request that a furloughed employee return to his or her job very likely constitutes an offer of suitable employment that the employee must accept.
Who is considered to be essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Essential (critical infrastructure) workers include health care personnel and employees in other essential workplaces (e.g., first responders and grocery store workers).
What if an employee refuses to come to work for fear of infection?
Your policies, that have been clearly communicated, should address this.Educating your workforce is a critical part of your responsibility.Local and state regulations may address what you have to do and you should align with them.
Can COVID-19 be spread through sex?
The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can be inhaled or land in the mouth or nose of a person nearby. Coming into contact with a person's spit through kissing or other sexual activities could expose you to the virus.
Who is eligible for PUA?
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) extends unemployment benefits to eligible self-employed workers, including: 2. Freelancers and independent contractors. Workers seeking part-time work. Workers who don't have a work history long enough to qualify for state unemployment insurance benefits. Workers who otherwise wouldn't qualify ...
When does the PUA expire?
PUA will expire Sept. 6, 2021, after a total of 79 weeks.
What is PUA in unemployment?
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a program that temporarily expands unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility to self-employed workers, freelancers, independent contractors, and part-time workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. PUA is one of the programs originally established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, ...
What are the new programs under the Cares Act?
In addition to the PUA program, the CARES Act extended unemployment benefits through two other initiatives: the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.
When was PUA created?
PUA is one of the programs originally established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus emergency stimulus package that President Donald Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020. The act expanded states' ability to provide unemployment insurance to many workers affected by COVID-19, ...
How long does it take to get unemployment benefits after being exhausted?
Extends benefits up to an extra 53 weeks after regular unemployment compensation benefits are exhausted. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) Provides a federal benefit of $300 a week through Sept. 6, 2021. Provided $600 a week through July 31, 2020.
What are some examples of PUA?
Examples of the types of workers targeted by the PUA program include freelancers, part-time “gig workers,” and those who are self-employed. To qualify, workers must certify they are unable to work due to one or several conditions related to COVID-19.
What is PUA in unemployment?
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a federal program that was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program provides support for Americans who are unable to work due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but do not qualify for traditional Unemployment Insurance (UI).
How to get a PUA rate review?
To have your benefit rate reviewed, complete the PUA Request for Reconsideration form and return it along with your supporting proof of earnings documentation by fax, mail or online. To submit online, log in at www.labor.ny.gov/signin. Select "Go to My Inbox" and then "Compose New." Select "Submit Documents" for the first subject line and "PUA Request for Reconsideration" for the second subject line. Select "Attach File" and upload a digital copy of your documents. Then select "Send."
How to check if PUA is pending?
NOTE: If you have already applied for PUA: You can check the status of your claim online by logging into your NY.Gov account on the DOL website. If you see it is still pending, no action is required; we have added thousands of DOL representatives who are working seven days a week to process your claim as quickly as possible.
What does the application determine?
The application will determine which program — UI or PUA — you should be applying for and then prompt you to answer program-specific questions
What is the PUA rate based on?
If you qualify for PUA, your benefit rate will be based on your recent earnings.
When do you have to certify for unemployment?
You should certify for benefits for each week you remain unemployed as soon as you receive notification from the DOL to do so. See the Certify for Weekly Benefits section below.
Why is my unemployment claim pending?
In some cases, additional information must be obtained before payment can be made and your payment may take longer. Any claim you file will be backdated to the date you became unemployed. If you are eligible, you will be paid for all benefits due.
When will PUA benefits end?
The CARES Act specifies that PUA benefits cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment ending after September 4, 2021. Click here for PUA Claimant Guide File a regular unemployment claim.
When will PUA benefits be retroactive?
For applications established on or prior to 12-26-20, benefit payments under PUA can be retroactive, for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 reasons starting on or after January 27, 2020 (Effective date of 2-2-20).
How long is PUA?
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) PUA provides up to 79 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, ...
How long does it take to terminate a PUA?
All states and territories, including Washington, D.C., have agreed to participate in the PUA program. However, either the DOL or a state may give thirty days written notice to terminate the PUA Agreement.
Can you terminate unemployment benefits?
The DOL says it has the right to terminate an agreement with a state or territory if that area, “does not have an adequate system for administering such assistance.” If an agreement is terminated, payments will still be made for weeks of unemployment that were on or before the termination date.
Has the PUA been extended?
The only update is that the program has been extended until September 6, 2021. For more information on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance:
When was the last time the PUA was updated?
Last Updated: May 12, 2021. While federally funded programs like PUA and PEUC have provided additional benefits and weeks of coverage for millions of unemployed or underemployed Americans during the COVID pandemic, many states have also triggered emergency provisions within their own unemployment insurance ...
How long is the PUA?
This included: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA) – Up to 75 weeks of benefits for freelance, gig and contract workers who would normally NOT have been eligible for state ...
How much will I get under State Extended Benefits?
While the amount of EB’s are capped at the state’s weekly maximum benefit amount (MBA), many states pay less or a proportion of this. For example in Texas, the state EB is 50 percent of the regular UI claim’s MBA or will pay up to 13 weeks. The MBA for extremely high unemployment is 30 percent of the regular UI claim’s MBA or will pay up to 7 weeks. To confirm what you will get you will need to check with your state unemployment agency which will provide a determination using your wage base period.
How long does unemployment pay for?
Extended State Unemployment Benefits (EB)— Provides an additional 13 additional weeks of benefits when a state is experiencing high unemployment. Some states have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (for a total of 20 weeks maximum) during periods of extremely high unemployment. Note that extended state benefits are only available after people have collected all regular Unemployment Insurance benefits as well as any Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation ( PEUC) extension benefits they were eligible for. But if the unemployment rates drops below high unemployment thresholds in a state, the EB benefit coverage weeks may drop or cease.
How many weeks of unemployment benefits are extended?
Extended State Unemployment Benefits (EB)— Provides an additional 13 additional weeks of benefits when a state is experiencing high unemployment. Some states have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (for a total of 20 weeks maximum) during periods of extremely high unemployment. Note that extended state benefits are ...
How many weeks of unemployment in Texas?
A similar worker in Texas would get 26 weeks of regular UI + 13 weeks of PUEC + 7 weeks of Extended State Unemployment benefits + 7 more weeks for entering extremely High Unemployment Period (HUP) for a total of 59 weeks.
Can you get PUA if you have exhausted other benefits?
Workers who get PUA are not eligible for PEUC or Extended State Unemployment benefits. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation ( PEUC )—A total of 54 weeks of coverage if you have exhausted other benefits.
Can someone who has never worked apply for PUA?
Pennsylvania’s website says clearly that someone who has never worked can apply . New York’s website also implies the same “Those scheduled to commence new employment that cannot reach their workplace as a direct result of COVID-19” are eligible for PUA.
Do you have to have a work history to get PUA?
The long answer: In order to be eligible for regular unemployment insurance, you do need to have worked in the previous 18 months. However, PUA eligibility does not include the requirement to have work history. There is nothing that I saw in the CARES Act that would require a work history in order to be eligible.
When is the last day to file for PUA?
The last day you can submit these documents is either Sept. 6 , 2021, or 21 days after you applied for PUA, whichever is later.
How long does it take to get unemployment benefits?
We must verify wage information to determine your correct benefits. This typically takes up to three weeks if there are no issues with your application.
How long do you have to answer a question on a job application?
You also will be asked to answer questions that verify your work history. You will have 21 days from the date of the letter to submit your answers.
How are you paid for a weekly claim?
You will be paid based on the weekly claims you complete. Weekly claims you submit before being approved will be processed together for an initial lump sum payment. After that, new weekly claims will be processed and paid each week.
Do you have to answer special questions on unemployment?
Each week you file for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, you'll need to answer special questions in addition to regular unemployment questions.
Can you extend unemployment benefits?
If you are approved for regular unemployment benefits, you will receive normal unemployment payments and you will have the option to extend your benefits if needed. If that happens to you, skip Step 2 and go directly to Step 3.