CARES Act extension and changes to unemployment benefit programs

The information below is based upon the most recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. This website will be updated frequently.

NOTE: It is important to remember that all claimants are required to file a new claim after their prior claim expires (benefit year end date). If not monetarily eligible, the prior claim will be active to receive any available extensions.

If the new claim is monetarily eligible, but the weekly benefit allowance (WBA) is more than $25 less than the WBA on the prior claim, that claim will be active to receive Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) (only PEUC, does not apply to a claimant receiving Extended Benefits prior to claim expiring).

Overview and Implementation Details

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which extends benefits under the CARES Act, and provides new qualification requirements, was signed into law on March 11, 2021.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

• As of January 6, 2021, DUA has implemented FPUC for UI claimants. The additional $300 was added to weekly benefit payments for the week ending January 2, 2021.
• PUA claimants will receive their FPUC payments beginning Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.
• These additional benefits will continue until the week ending on September 4, 2021.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• DUA has implemented the extended PUA program and benefits are available until the week ending September 4, 2021.
• PUA claimants may now receive up to 79 weeks of benefits.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• The extended PEUC program (PEUC 1.1) has now been implemented in UI Online. Claimants may now receive up to 53 weeks of PEUC in total.
• Claimants need to request PEUC benefit weeks through UI Online.
• The PEUC program will conclude the week ending September 4, 2021. 

Extended Benefits (EB)

• Extended Benefits (EB) will remain active due to continued federal funding until conditions for the 13-week entitlement “trigger off.” Eligible claimants are receiving their weekly benefits.
• Claimants who exhaust EB need just continue certifying for benefits and will automatically transition on to PEUC 1.1.

Additional Resources

Apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits

Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits Guide

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation

Unemployment Extended Benefits (EB)

CAA unemployment flowchart

Summary of Programs

As a reminder, among the changes contained in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are:

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021	Program Summary - Extends CARES Act programs to week ending 9/4/2021
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)	Provides an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants. A claimant must be eligible through a separate unemployment program to receive FPUC. FPUC will be available for weeks of unemployment ending September 4, 2021.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)	Provides an additional 29 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 79 weeks.  The PUA program will conclude the week ending September 4, 2021.  New claimants filing after January 31, 2021 will be required to provide documentation of employment, self-employment, or a qualifying job offer within 21 days of filing. Claimants with established claims receiving payments in 2021 will have 90 days from the date they are notified to provide such documentation.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)	Provides an additional 29 weeks of benefits, up to a maximum of 53 weeks.  The PEUC program will conclude the week ending September 4, 2021.
Extended Benefits (EB)	Extended Benefits (EB) will remain active due to continued federal funding until conditions for the 13-week entitlement “trigger off.”