Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - Substantiation/Proof of Employment

Learn how to provide substantiation of employment, which is documentation of proof of employment, self-employment, or plans to begin employment or self-employment as required by the Continued Assistance Act signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.

EMPLOYMENT SUBSTANTIATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

If you have not already provided proof of employment or self-employment that you were unable to continue due to COVID-19, or the planned commencement of employment or self-employment, and you have a deadline of June 21, you MUST respond by the extended deadline of July 1, 2021. If you do not respond by July 1, 2021, your PUA benefits will stop, and you will be required to repay benefits you received after December 27, 2020. Even if you have stopped claiming PUA benefits, you must respond to this request for information as it may involve benefits you have already received.

To respond, go to https://ui-cares-act.mass.gov/PUA/ and log in to your account. Select the “Respond to Fact Finding” link on the “We Need Information From You” section. You can also view the “Action Center” tab and click the “Click here to answer Fact Finding Questionnaire” on the “We Need Information From You” section.

Overview

The Continued Assistance Act (CAA) that was signed into law on December 27, 2020, requires that any individual that receives Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits after December 27, 2020 is required to provide documentation proving employment (not covered by Unemployment Insurance (UI)) or self-employment, or the planned beginning of employment or self-employment to demonstrate a recent attachment to the labor force. This is known as substantiation of employment.

The deadline for providing this documentation depends on when the initial PUA claim was filed.

Individuals filing a new PUA application on or after January 31, 2021 (regardless of whether the claim is backdated):

• Documentation is required within 21 days of application or the date the individual is directed to submit the documentation, whichever is later. Individuals who request additional time prior to the 21^st day may do so by:
  1.  Log in to your PUA online account
  2. Click More…
  3. Click Request additional time for Substantiating Employment

Individuals who applied for PUA before January 31, 2021 and received a payment of PUA on or after December 27, 2020 (regardless of which week ending date is being paid):

• Documentation is required within 90 days of the application or when directed to submit the documentation, whichever is later. Individuals who request additional time to provide documentation prior to the 90^th day may do so by:
  1. Log in to your PUA online account
  2. Click More…
  3. Click Request additional time for Substantiating Employment

Document examples

Some examples of documents that may be used to prove employment include:

• Affidavits
• Bank statements
• Contracts
• Invoices
• Letters/Emails Offering Employment
• Paycheck stubs
• Tax returns
• DD-214 forms

Examples of proving self-employment:

• State or Federal employer identification numbers
• Business licenses
• State or federal tax returns with supporting income documentation
• Business receipts
• Signed affidavits from persons verifying the individual’s self-employment

Examples of proof of the planned commencement of employment:

• Letters offering employment
• Statements/affidavits by individuals (with name and contact information) verifying an offer of employment

Examples of proof of the planned commencement of self-employment:

• Business licenses
• State or Federal employer identification numbers
• Written business plans
• A lease agreement

What happens while my documents are being reviewed?

While the employment substantiation issue is pending, benefit payments will not be suspended, as long as documentation is supplied within the time allowed.  If a claimant responds to the request for documentation within the applicable deadline, payments will not be suspended until an adjudicator can examine the documents submitted and make a determination of eligibility.  If it is determined the claimant met the requirement in proving employment in their base period, the issue will be approved and the claimant will continue to receive benefits.  If it is determined the claimant did not meet their requirement in proving employment in the base period (tax year prior to initial application for unemployment benefits) the issue will be denied and the claimant will not be eligible for any future payments.  The claimant will be issued an appealable determination if they are denied.  Claimants will have to appeal the determination and have the denial overturned at the appeal before benefits can be paid again.

What happens if I do not submit documents?

Individuals who do not provide documentation proving employment/self-employment (or planned employment/self-employment) within the required timeframe (21 or 90 days from the date of notice to comply), are not eligible for PUA benefits for the entire period of their claim. These claimants will be determined overpaid for any benefits received after December 27, 2020 (the date of enactment of the Continued Assistance Act).

How to upload documents

Reminder: Claimants should not click on Submit until they have uploaded all their material.

To upload documents into FAST UI System:

Click Add, select file to attach, click OK

Click Add, select file to attach, click OK

 Click Add, select file to attach, click OK

Once all documents have been added, click on Submit .

Reminder: Claimants should not click on submit until they have uploaded all their material.