What Is PUA – Facts, Figures and Eligibility Criteria

The CARES Act, which was passed in March 2020, established an emergency jobless benefits programme known as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Unemployed workers who are not qualified for regular state unemployment benefits or who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits are eligible for PUA.

What is PUA?

The term “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” (PUA) refers to a programme that temporarily extended unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility to people who were self-employed or employed at some point during the calendar year preceding and up to the start of your PUA claim. Federal rules require you to provide documentation proving you were, or planned to be, self-employed or employed at some point during the calendar year preceding and up to the start of your PUA claim.

Consider the following scenario:

• If your claim began in December 2020, you must produce documentation for the period January 2019 to December 2020.
• If your claim began in February 2021, you must produce documentation for the period January 2020 to February 2021.

Important: You must submit proof of employment or self-employment even though PUA benefits have ended in order to avoid the potential of having to repay benefits received.

o wouldn’t otherwise qualify. This included self-employed workers, freelancers, independent contractors, and part-time workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

PUA was among the programs established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus emergency stimulus package that then-President Donald Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020. The program expired on Sept. 6, 2021, along with other employment-related programs that provided COVID relief.

Understanding PUA

You must submit proof of employment or self-employment even though PUA benefits have ended in order to avoid the potential of having to repay benefits received or  wouldn’t otherwise qualify.

This included self-employed workers, freelancers, independent contractors, and part-time workers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

PUA was among the programs established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion coronavirus emergency stimulus package that then-President Donald Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020. The program expired on Sept. 6, 2021, along with other employment-related programs that provided COVID relief.

Who is eligible to receive PUA?

You had to self-certify that you were able to work and that you were available for a job but were unemployed, partially employed, unable to work, or unable for employment due to one of the below mentioned COVID-19-related situations.

PUA is applicable to any individual who is not eligible for state unemployment and is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of one of the following COVID-19–related reasons:

• The individual was diagnosed with COVID-19
• The individual has symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis
• A member of the individual’s household has COVID-19
• The individual is providing care to a household member with COVID-19;
• A child or other person in the household for which the individual is the primary caregiver is unable to attend school or daycare due to COVID-19;
• The individual is unable to reach work due to quarantine;
• The individual is unable to attend work because he or she has been advised by a healthcare professional to self-quarantine
• The individual is scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of COVID-19
• The individual has become the breadwinner due to the death of the head of household as a result of COVID-19
• The individual had to quit job as a result of COVID-19
• The individual’s place of employment closed due to COVID-19
• The individual is self-employed, is seeking part-time employment, does not have sufficient work history, or otherwise would not qualify for unemployment under another state unemployment program.

Individuals who are able to telework with pay or who are receiving sick leave or other paid leave benefits are not eligible.

Unemployment programs under the CARES Act

People who received unemployment insurance, including those who received a partial unemployment benefit check, were given a flat amount called FPUC. It was for persons who received benefits under the PUA and PEUC programmes. After the programme was first renewed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2020, the original $600 weekly payment was cut to $300. FPUC, like PUA, ended on September 6, 2021.

Special considerations

States had a lot of leeway under federal legislation to change their laws to grant unemployment insurance benefits in a variety of COVID-19-related situations. States, for example, were able to provide benefits when:

COVID-19 forced a firm to close momentarily, preventing employees from reporting to work.

A person was quarantined and expected to return to work once the quarantine period was over.

Because of the potential of COVID-19 exposure or infection, or to care for a family member, a person has ceased working.

An employee does not have to be laid off to get COVID-19 benefits under federal law.

Who was Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) created for?

PUA was created to help workers who might otherwise be ineligible for unemployment benefits. Freelancers, part-time gig workers, and self-employed persons were among the workers targeted by the PUA initiative.

Workers had to demonstrate that they couldn’t work due to one or more COVID-19-related conditions in order to qualify. On September 6, 2021, the programme came to an end.

Were PUA and Unemployment Insurance (UI) the same thing?

The PUA and UI programmes were not the same. The worker could not be eligible for UI in order to be eligible for PUA. Despite the fact that they were two separate initiatives, each had the same goal: to offer financial assistance to unemployed employees. PUA was created in reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic, after it was discovered that standard UI programmes did not provide appropriate support for those who worked outside of permanent full-time occupations.

Was it possible to get PUA and UI at the same time?

No, it was not possible to receive PUA and UI at the same time. Those who were eligible for UI didn’t qualify for PUA. Similarly, PUA was only available to workers who didn’t qualify for UI.

PUA reassessment

Unemployed Californians can now use three new reasons, in addition to the current ones, to justify why they were out of work during the COVID-19 public health emergency, according to new federal instructions. If you were previously refused benefits under the PUA programme for one or more weeks, you will get instructions on how to complete the PUA Reassessment under your UI Online account.

These three reasons include:

• You were an employee and your hours were decreased or you were laid off as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. If you were previously refused benefits under the PUA programme for one or more weeks, you will get instructions on how to complete the PUA Reassessment under your UI Online account.
• You were denied unemployment benefits because you refused to return to work or accept a job offer at a job site that was no longer in operation.
• You were a school employee and were fully or partially unemployed because of changes in your usual work schedule directly caused by COVID-19.

Certification

You must “certify” for your benefit payments after your account has been set up. Answering basic questions every two weeks that show you were unemployed and qualify for benefits is known as certifying.

Note that you can only certify for weeks of unemployment before September 4, 2021 with a PUA claim if you filed it online or by mail. You cannot certify with EDD Tele-CertSM.

It usually takes about a week from the time you certify to get your first benefit check. There may be delays due to the enormous number of claims we are processing. If you are eligible, you might get your first PUA payment in as little as two days if you already have an EDD Debit Card. Within four to seven days, new debit cards and cheques are mailed. Once you activate the card, you can track, use, and transfer your benefit payments.

How to file a claim?

You must file a claim for PUA benefits in the state where you worked or were self-employed. Visit the Unemployment Insurance Service Locator to learn about your state’s programme and how to file a claim. When you make a claim, the state agency will ask for details like your current and previous residences, as well as information about your self-employment. Provide complete and accurate information, including how you got unemployed, partially unemployed, or are unable or unavailable to work owing to COVID-19-related causes, to avoid delays.

Complete continued claim certifications

You must continue to file weekly or biweekly claims for PUA benefits according to your state agency’s instructions.

Providing proof of employment

To document employment or self-employment that was impacted by COVID-19, or work that would have begun on or after the date when COVID-19 altered your employment status, you must submit proof (e.g., pay stubs, income tax returns, bank statements, offer letter). You must submit the relevant paperwork in accordance with the state’s standards.

Receiving the $600 supplemental payment for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

You will receive an additional $600 supplemental payment under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) programme if you are eligible for PUA benefits for a week. Only weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the day the state entered into an FPUC agreement with the US Department of Labor are eligible for FPUC. For each week of unemployment ending after July 31, 2020, FPUC is not payable.

When does PUA end and how much amount is received through it?

For weeks beginning on or after January 27, 2020, and ending on or before December 31, 2020, PUA will be paid retrospectively to qualified persons. PUA benefits are available for up to 39 weeks. The amount of your PUA weekly benefit is determined according to the guidelines in 20 CFR 625.6 and then augmented by the $600 FPUC payment. If you’re self-employed or haven’t worked long enough to qualify for regular unemployment compensation, and your earnings for the previous tax year would result in a lower weekly benefit amount than the minimum for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits outlined in UIPL No. 03-20, your weekly benefit amount will be that UIPL’s minimum amount.

What to do if your PUA claim is denied?

You can file an appeal of your denial of PUA benefits by following the instructions provided by the State with your denial notification.

Self-employment and employment documentation

You must supply evidence if we issue a request to your UI Online account or a Verify Your Employment Status for Your Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claim (DE 6316SEES) by mail. If either of the following applies, you will receive a request:

• On or after January 31, 2021, you filed a PUA claim (which was processed by the EDD). You’ll have 21 days to submit your paperwork.
• You submitted your PUA claim (which was processed by the EDD) before January 31, 2021, and you got a benefit payment after December 27, 2020. You’ll have 90 days to submit your paperwork.

On your UI Online homepage, you’ll find the deadline for submitting papers.

What is the difference between UI and PUA?

Unemployment insurance (UI) is a state/federal programme that has been in place in Washington since 1938, ensuring that workers get pay if they are laid off or otherwise become unemployed due to no fault of their own. Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits assist unemployed people to cover their basic necessities for up to 26 weeks while they hunt for new jobs.

The PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) programme was included in the CARES Act in 2020 to help a broader spectrum of people who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PUA benefits are comparable to UI benefits and are available to the self-employed, gig workers, part-time workers, persons without enough work experience, and others who don’t qualify for traditional UI—as long as they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to a COVID-19-related reason.

What are the penalties if an individual is not truthful on the PUA application?

Fraud penalties will be imposed in each state.

As previously indicated, PUA is a federally funded benefit available to self-employed, gig economy workers, and independent contractors that are impacted. PUA also applies to those who were unable to qualify for state unemployment aid due to a lack of ability to meet the state’s requirements. These individuals were previously ineligible for unemployment aid because they did not qualify for or pay into the state unemployment insurance programmes.

How is PUA impacted by partial unemployment?

If an impacted individual is experiencing partial unemployment, he or she may be eligible for PUA. The weekly amount of PUA payable to an unemployed person for a week of partial unemployment is the weekly benefit amount (WBA) reduced (but not below zero) by the full amount of any income received for the performance of services during the week, regardless of whether any services were performed during that week. This reduction is mandated by regulation 20 C.F.R. 626.6(f) (1).

Example 1: In a state where only earnings in excess of $10 are deductible/disregarded, a PUA applicant with a weekly benefit amount of $80 earned $31.75 for a week.

Example 2: A PUA applicant with a weekly benefit amount of $300 earned $500.00 for a week in a state where only earnings in excess of $10 are deductible /disregarded:

How is the weekly benefit amount calculated for PUA?

PUA rewards are calculated using the calendar year 2019 as the base period. The PUA benefit is calculated by applying the regular state computation to the 2019 base period. If no wage history is available, the state will calculate the weekly benefit using the minimal PUA benefit amount.

“50 percent of the average weekly payment of normal compensation in the state, as provided quarterly by the Department,” is the minimum weekly PUA benefit amount.

In addition, PUA beneficiaries can receive $600 per week from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation programme for 16 weeks, or until July 31, 2020, in the same way that state unemployment recipients can.

Understanding PUA Benefit Amounts for Part-Time Workers

The PUA benefit amount remains unchanged for individuals employed or self-employed part-time. According to Section 2102(d)(1)(A)(i) of the CARES Act, the minimum PUA weekly benefit cannot be less than 50% of the regular state unemployment compensation.

The Department of Labor (DOL) issued Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 16-20 on April 27, 2020. This letter provided guidance to state unemployment agencies on applying Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). PUA covers self-employed individuals, gig economy workers, and independent contractors. It also includes those who can’t meet state unemployment aid requirements. The federal government funds all PUA payments, leaving state unemployment accounts unaffected. The DOL’s guidance followed a webinar with state agencies to ensure uniform PUA application. Now, PUA is accessible in all 50 states.

PUA does not significantly impact most companies’ workforces. State unemployment benefits apply if a person qualifies. Individuals can only receive PUA if state benefits are unavailable. Here are examples of such situations:

• A job offer was canceled or delayed.
• A new employee didn’t meet base wage requirements.
• An individual is sick or caring for someone with COVID-19, and state UI doesn’t qualify them.
• A minor child’s school or daycare closed due to COVID-19, preventing the individual from working, and state UI doesn’t qualify them.

In summary, PUA provides crucial support to those who can’t access state unemployment benefits, ensuring financial stability during the pandemic.

PUA employment phone number

On September 17, 2021, the PUA hotline (1-855-284-8545) and email (ucpua@pa.gov) were discontinued. Individuals with PUA questions may still contact UC using the contact information provided below after this date.

Please call the PUA call center at (833) 604-0774

Conclusion

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, established by the CARES Act, provided essential support to those who couldn’t access traditional unemployment benefits. By covering self-employed individuals, gig workers, freelancers, and part-time employees, PUA ensured that a broader spectrum of workers received financial aid during the pandemic. Though the program ended on September 6, 2021, its impact remains significant. PUA highlighted the need for flexible unemployment solutions during crises, offering a safety net to millions. As we move forward, understanding PUA’s framework and legacy can help shape more inclusive and responsive unemployment policies.