HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1001.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA) – Unemployed Pennsylvanians will be eligible for more benefits by the CARES Act extensions for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs.
Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier cautioned that there could be a delay in payments for the 509,000 unemployed workers in Pennsylvania as they wait for the federal government to approve legislation.
"The CARES Act extensions will ensure Pennsylvania workers who have been affected by the global economic downturn caused by COVID-19 will continue to receive the unemployment support they desperately need for themselves and their families," said Berrier. "L&I began reviewing the legislation last week when it was first unveiled and will resume making payments for the PUA and PEUC programs as soon as we get approval from the federal Department of Labor (DOL) to move forward."
The PUA and PEUC both expired last week but received extensions, and will help workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19. This will assist workers who are not eligible for other unemployment compensation programs and will give additional weeks benefits to those who have exhausted their benefits.
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) will give an additional $300 per week on top of their benefits to those who are eligible.
While the new relief will assist those impacted by COVID-19, the delay in payments could last weeks.
"We know Pennsylvania workers are relying on these programs to pay for essential needs so we are doing everything we can to begin resuming payments as quickly as we can after we receive more information from US DOL," added Berrier. "We strongly encourage these Pennsylvanians to apply for other forms of benefits that can help them while we wait on the federal government to provide us with the guidance and permission we need to begin implementing the extensions."
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