The VOLS Unemployed Worker’s Project applauds the passage and signing into law of the American Rescue Plan Act, which extends eligibility for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance programs through September 6, 2021. To help understanding the impact of the law on our clients, we have prepared a new guide below:
Text Only Version:
Programs
Programs extended through September – unlike the previous iterations of relief bill, the American Rescue Plan does not allot a specific number of weeks claimants can collect. Rather, PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation), FPUC (Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) and PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) programs were all extended through September 5, 2021. This means:
- Additional $300 payments if you are collecting either UI or PUA (FPUC)
- Continued collection of benefits for those who are still unemployed
- Continued eligibility for those who do not qualify for UI but meet PUA eligibility standards, which have been expanded.
- Claimants must certify every week that they still meet PUA eligibility
- PUA claimants who are filing for the first time must provide identifying information and complete information about their work history, including W-2 wages, 1099 forms and Schedule C reports. The DOL has raised the standard for documentation, so claimants must often complete their application over the phone and submit additional documentation.
Benefit-Year-End Date
If you are approaching this date, you may need to reapply for benefits. You do NOT need to reapply for benefits if, since filing their claim in 2020, the claimant:
- Did not return to work for an employer OR
- Did not earn 10x their weekly benefit rate, excluding self-employment wages.
INSTEAD – continue to certify on the same claim.
UI recipients who went back to work AND earned more than 10 x their weekly benefit rate (excluding earnings from self employment) MUST file a new claim for benefits.
To determine if you’ve earned 10x your benefit rate, multiply your weekly benefit rate by 10.
If you reapply, you will NOT be able to extend your current claim.
You may wish to reapply even if you did not return to work/earn 10x your benefit rate, especially if you were previously denied. After you reapply, the DOL will review your claim to determine if you qualify for a new claim or if you can continue receiving PEUC/Extended benefits.
Those who are filing new claims should follow similar rules to last year. A-F should file Tuesday after their BYE date, G-N Wednesday after BYE date, O-Z Thursday after BYE date. If you miss your date, you can apply later in the week or Friday.
PUA claimants do NOT need to reapply.