By: Laurie A. McCarthy, Esquire
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (“PEUC”) Program has been extended to provide 11 additional weeks to eligible claimants. PEUC is a temporary federal program available for individuals whose regular unemployment benefits have expired or will expire soon.
The extension started Sunday, January 24, 2021. The extended PEUC payments will be available for those who have used all their regular unemployment benefits. Claimants can file for the 11 additional weeks provided by the extension, which is on top of the 13 weeks provided in the original CARES Act. The PEUC program adds a total of 24 weeks to the number of eligible weeks a claimant has through the regular unemployment compensation program.
Eligibility requirements for PEUC are the same as for regular unemployment compensation.
You must be:
- At least partially unemployed,
- Able and available for suitable work,
- Not disqualified for voluntarily leaving work, and
- Not discharged for willful misconduct.
If you qualify for the program, you will automatically receive the extra $300 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation – you do not need to take any additional action to get this boost.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program – Extension
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (“PUA”) provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits, including those who have exhausted all rights to such benefits. This includes gig workers, freelancers, and self-employed workers.
PUA benefits are only for individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 reasons, it does not cover:
- Individuals without an attachment to the labor market, or
- Individuals who are unemployed for non-COVID-19 reasons.
To file for benefits https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/Pages/default.aspx
Claimants who have questions about a PEUC claim should email [email protected].
Claimants who have questions about a PUA claim should email [email protected].
The Law Firm of DiOrio & Sereni, LLP is a full-service law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We strive to help people, businesses and institutions throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania solve legal problems – and even prevent legal problems before they occur. To learn more about the full range of our specific practice areas, please visit www.dioriosereni.com or contact Laurie A. McCarthy, Esquire at 610-565-5700 or at [email protected]
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