Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – (The PUA is considered taxable income.)
- Benefit Provided: The PUA will equal the minimum weekly benefit amount described in the Stafford Act Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program, which is the model for the PUA program (CFR 625.6 of Title 20), plus the $600 per week federally funded supplement (similar to that provided to UI recipients under the PUC).
- PUA benefits are calculated the same way as they are for the federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance program under the Stafford Act, which is the model for the PUA program.
- PUA will have a minimum benefit that is equal to one-half the state’s average weekly UI benefit (about $190 per week).
- Provides emergency unemployment assistance to workers who are left out of regular state UI benefits.
- Provides emergency unemployment assistance to workers who have exhausted their state UI benefits.
- Up to 39 weeks of PUA are available to workers who are immediately eligible to receive PUA.
- The program will expire on December 31, 2020, unless otherwise extended.
- Provides income support to many workers who are shut out of the state UI systems
- Workers who are eligible for state UI are not eligible for the PUA program.
- Those eligible for PUA include self-employed workers, including independent contractors, freelancers, workers seeking part-time work, and workers who do not have a long-enough work history to qualify for state UI benefits.
- Workers are not eligible for PUA if they can either telework with pay or are receiving paid sick days or paid leave.
- Workers must be authorized to work to be eligible for PUA, meaning that undocumented workers will not qualify.
- The PUA program will run from January 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
- Workers will be eligible for retroactive benefits and can access benefits for a maximum of 39 weeks, including any weeks for which the person received regular UI.
- Eligibility will sunset on December 31, 2020 absent any extensions.
- Applicants will need to provide self-certification that they are (1) partially or fully unemployed, OR (2) unable and unavailable to work because of one of the following circumstances:
- They have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have symptoms of it and are seeking diagnosis;
- A member of their household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- They are providing care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19;
- They are providing care for a child or other household member who can’t attend school or work because it is closed due to COVID-19;
- They are quarantined or have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine;
- They were scheduled to start employment and do not have a job or cannot reach their place of employment as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak;
- They have become the breadwinner for a household because the head of household has died as a direct result of COVID-19;
- They had to quit their job as a direct result of COVID-19;
- Their place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19; or
- They meet other criteria established by the Secretary of Labor.
- Apply at your state unemployment website.
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- Church Employees
- Churches are exempt from both federal and state unemployment taxes, so their employees are typically ineligible to receive unemployment benefits. PUA provides unemployment compensation for individuals not eligible for regular unemployment insurance or any extensions to unemployment insurance. This will provide benefits to eligible self-employed workers and independent contractors.
- The NCDES system will be ready to accept claims for this assistance April 24, 2020.
- The Division of Employment Security has received official guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on how to implement the three unemployment programs of the federal CARES Act.
- The NCDES is working to modify their systems to make sure people receive proper and accurate payments. If you are due any benefits prior to the full implementation of these programs, you will be paid retroactively.
- Church Employees
For more information on all the unemployment programs, follow this link to our CARES Act document and go to Unemployment Section J
Additional Resources for Unemployment for North Carolina:
https://des.nc.gov/need-help/covid-19-nc-unemployment-insurance-information
https://files.nc.gov/des/press-release/files/pua_tipsheet_apr24_m.pdf
To view more information about the Federal Unemployment Programs view our comprehensive summary in Section 18
To apply in North Carolina visit NCDES.
For residents in other states, please visit the Department of Labor to find your local office.
