The CARES Act generally provides assistance to individuals who are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to COVID-19. The CARES ACT provides for the following unemployment benefit programs:
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – this program will extend benefits to those individuals who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment benefits (i.e. independent contractors, self- employed) . The PUA program runs from January 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020 and benefits will be received retroactively, for a period of 39 weeks, as long as the inability to work is caused by COVID-19. Eligibility will end on December 31, 2020 unless extended.
- How do I apply? Apply for PUA benefits after you have been determined ineligible for UI benefits by visiting your state’s labor department website. For New Yorkers – go to https://www.labor.ny.gov/signin Note: you must apply for unemployment insurance BEFORE you apply for PUA.
- For more detailed information you can click on this link. https://labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.pdf.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – this is an additional 13 weeks of coverage provided to unemployed individuals who have exhausted their state’s regular unemployment coverage (which in most cases is 26 weeks), for a total of 39 weeks.
Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) – is an additional $600 per week in addition to the unemployment compensation benefits to which an individual is entitled with payments being made through July 31, 2020. This amount will be automatically added to your regular UI or PUA benefits. Note that this income will not be counted towards your income eligibility for Medicaid.
For more information from the NY State Department of Labor, including frequently asked questions and answers about unemployment insurance during the coronavirus – visit https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/ui-covid-faq.pdf
Expansion of Work Sharing Program https://labor.ny.gov/ui/claimantinfo/sharedworkclmtfaq.shtm
The CARES Act also provides funding for states that have Short-Time Compensation programs and financial incentives for states to adopt such programs where they do not already exist. Short-Time Compensation – also known as Work-Sharing – programs are voluntary agreements between employers and their state unemployment office to avoid layoffs by reducing employee hours. The employees, in turn, are eligible for prorated unemployment benefits. States with work sharing programs include AZ, AK, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, IA, KS, ME, MA, MI, MS, NE, NH, NJ, NY OH, OR, PA, RI, VT, TX, WA and WI.
What do I need to know?
- Are you already approved for Unemployment insurance? – if so, there is nothing for you to do except continue to certify weekly. In addition you will receive $600/week under the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program until 7/31/2020 with payments beginning 4/5/2020.
- Have you exhausted 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits after 7/1/2019? You can apply for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) by going online at https://www.labor.ny.gov/signin or call 1-888-209-8124. If eligible you may qualify to receive 13 weeks of additional UI benefits and an additional $600/week until 7/31/2020 under the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
- Are you filing a new UI claim? Apply online at https://www.labor.ny.gov/signin (recommended) or call 1-888-209-8124. Note for NY residents, the day you should apply is based on the first letter of your last name. A-F file on Monday, G-N file on Tuesday, O- Z file on Wednesday. If you missed your day file on Thursday – Saturday. Claims will be backdated to the date you became unemployed. If you qualify for UI benefits, UI benefits will be received for 39 weeks and in addition you will receive $600/week under the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program until 7/31/2020 with payments beginning 4/5/2020.
- If you are not traditionally eligible for UI benefits (I.e. independent contractors or self-employed): you may apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). First check your eligibility by visiting https://labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.pdf
- If eligible – you may qualify to receive 39 weeks of benefits in addition you will receive $600/week under the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program until 7/31/2020 with payments beginning 4/5/2020.
- Follow guidance below on how to apply
- For more information from the NY State Department of Labor, including frequently asked questions and answers about unemployment insurance during the coronavirus – visit https://www.labor.ny.gov/ui/pdfs/ui-covid-faq.pdf
Disclaimer: This post was current as of the date of posting. Any changes made to the law or regulations since original posting has not been incorporated. Please view the recent postings for current information or contact us directly with any questions.