UPDATE: DUA issues information on the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020

The information below is based upon the most recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is expecting further guidance to be issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. This website will be updated frequently.

Overview and Implementation Details

The Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020, which extends benefits under the CARES Act, and provides new qualification requirements, was signed into law on December 27, 2020.

Because the Continued Assistance Act was signed on December 27, 2020, individuals collecting benefits under the PUA and PEUC programs will be eligible for benefits for the week ending January 2, 2021.

DUA has already implemented some of the provisions of the Continued Assistance Act of 2020:

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.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• The extended PEUC program is still being implemented in UI Online. Extended PEUC claimants will receive retroactive payment to the week ending January 2, 2021, if eligible when the additional 11 weeks are implemented.
• For many PEUC claimants, the PEUC program will conclude the week ending March 13, 2021. However, claimants who are eligible for PEUC during the week ending March 13, 2021 and have not yet exhausted their 24 weeks will be able to claim PEUC through the week ending April 10, 2021.

High Unemployment Period Extended Benefits (HUP EB)

• HUP EB will remain active due to continued federal funding until conditions for the 20-week entitlement “trigger off” or until the week ending March 13, 2021. Eligible claimants are receiving their weekly benefits.

DUA is working as swiftly as possible to make the remaining necessary changes. Implementation updates and payment timelines for the remaining programs are as follows:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• DUA has implemented the extended PUA program and payments after the week ending December 26, 2020 will be paid beginning on Monday, January 11, 2020. Claimants should continue to file weekly claim certifications as scheduled.

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)

Summary of Programs

As a reminder, among the changes contained in the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 are:

Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 Program	Program Summary
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)	Provides 11 weeks of 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 between the week ending January 2, 2021 and the week ending March 13, 2021. FPUC is not retroactive.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)	Provides an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 57 weeks. The additional 11 weeks are not retroactive. For many PUA claimants, the PUA program will conclude the week ending March 13, 2021. However, claimants who are receiving PUA during the week ending March 13, 2021 and have not yet exhausted their 57 weeks of benefits will be able to claim PUA through the week ending April 10, 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 11 weeks of benefits, up to a maximum of 24 weeks. The additional 11 weeks are not retroactive. For many PEUC claimants, the PEUC program will conclude the week ending March 13, 2021. However, claimants who are receiving PEUC during the week ending March 13, 2021 and have not yet exhausted their 24 weeks will be able to claim PEUC through the week ending April 10, 2021.
High Unemployment Period Extended Benefits (HUP EB)	HUP EB will remain active due to continued federal funding until conditions for the 20-week entitlement “trigger off” or until the week ending March 13, 2021.