Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Website Launching Soon

Here is more information on PUA:

Eligible individuals who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, including:

• Self-employed;
• Independent contractors;
• Gig workers;
• People without sufficient work history to qualify for regular UC; and 
• People who have exhausted regular UC or extended benefits

PUA Benefits: 

In general, PUA:

• Provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits;
• May not be more than the state’s maximum weekly benefit rate for regular UC of $572;
• May not be less than half of the state’s average weekly benefit amount of $195.
• Payments will be backdated to January 27, 2020 or the first week you were unable to work due to COVID-19 (whichever of the two dates is later); and
• Benefits will end December 31, 2020.

Information Needed for Proof of Employment or Self-employment

Acceptable documentation can include, but is not limited to:

• Copies of recent paycheck stubs;
• Bank receipts showing deposits;
• 1099s;
• Billing notices provided to your customers;
• Recent advertisements for your business or services;
• Statements from recent customers;
• Current business licenses, ledgers, contracts, invoices; and/or
• Building leases.

Information Needed to Show Previous Income:

Acceptable documentation of wages can include, but is not limited to:

• Tax returns;
• Paycheck stubs;
• Bank receipts;
• Ledgers;
• Contracts;
• Invoices; and/or
• Billing statements.

Additional $600 Per Week:

Individuals collecting PUA benefits will also eligible for the extra $600 per week from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. The additional payments will be:

• Effective from the week ending April 4, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020; 
• Backdated and paid in one lump sum; and
• Automatic – you don’t need to do anything to receive the extra $600.

For more information, visit Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) FAQs webstie by clicking here.