The End of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Future Extensions, Retroactive and Claim Back Payment Issues

Note: The PUA program ended on September 6, 2021. While retroactive payments were made (see sections below) for several months following this date, no new or further pandemic related benefits were paid.

Currently, only traditional state unemployment benefits are available to unemployed claimants.

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Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program overview

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program was put in place primarily for those out-of-work Americans who are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits and are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of certain health or economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jobless workers covered under the PUA program were generally self-employed (e.g. independent contractors, freelancers or gig economy workers) who did not contribute taxes towards regular state unemployment (1099 wages).

While the PUA program was federally funded, including the most recent extension until September 6th, via the various stimulus bills passed over the last 18 months, it was administered at the State level under Department of Labor (DOL) guidelines.

That is why the implementation of the program has varied on a state-by-state basis and claimants faced hurdles and delays in getting timely payments.

You can jump to the relevant extension section via the links below for further information on each extension, including FAQs around the evolution of the program and dealing with payment issues.

PUA Program Has Ended – Any Chance of an Extension?

The PUA program has now ended and all coverage ceased after Labor Day (September 6, 2021), which means the final benefits will be paid for the week ending September 4th or 5th, 2021 in most states. Some states had ended PUA benefits earlier per the update below.

While there were discussions going on to extend pandemic unemployment benefits, especially in the light of the Delta COVID-19 variant and its potential to hamper economic growth, the Biden administration confirmed that they will not be pushing for further federally funded extensions and instead want states to use already allocated stimulus funding to expand or extend state unemployment programs.

After the expiry of the PUA program only traditional state unemployment benefits will be available for eligible claimants as discussed in the sections below. Based on current state unemployment rules, many PUA claimants would be excluded unless eligibility rules are adjusted.

Further even claimants with active PUA balances or weeks left to claim after September 6th won’t be paid out as the funding approval for the entire PUA benefits ends after that date.

This includes the supplementary $300 weekly boost that was paid under the FPUC program.

Several States Ending Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Early

Following recent job reports that showed a shortage of workers to fill open positions, many states have ended one or more of the federally funded pandemic unemployment programs; up to 10 weeks earlier than planned in order to incentivize workers to return to work. This includes the PUA program and associated $300 FPUC extra weekly payment.

The argument is that these generous UI benefits deter lower income workers (who make less than $15 p/hour) from returning to work. Opponents argue that the reason people are not going back to work is due to fears around getting COVID and/or child care and schooling restrictions. You can see more on which states are ending the PUA and $300 FPUC here and this recent YouTube video on this topic.

States will still be obligated to pay active unemployment claims up to the early termination date in their state (mid June to mid-July in most states). This includes any missing or retroactive payments. New claims for these federal programs won’t be accepted after this date and instead claimants will have to rely on the pre-pandemic state unemployment programs in place.

While a few states are not specifically ending their participation in the PUA program early (Florida, Ohio etc), the majority are as you can see in the table below. This unfortunately will hit PUA claimants (e.g. freelancers, gig workers) the hardest since they don’t qualify for traditional state unemployment.

There are pushes at a federal level and state lawsuits to try and address this, but unfortunately states are well within their rights to terminate this programs with 30 days notice to the US Department of Labor.

States Ending Unemployment EarlyPrograms EndingTermination Date
Alabama$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
Alaska$300 FPUCJune 12th, 2021
Arizona$300 FPUCJuly 10th, 2021
Arkansas$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
Florida$300 FPUCJune 26th, 2021
Georgia$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
Idaho$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
Indiana$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021* (Legal Challenge)
Iowa$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 12th, 2021
Louisiana$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJuly 31st, 2021
Maryland$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJuly 3rd, 2021* (Legal Challenge; Still paying)
Mississippi$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 12th, 2021
Missouri$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 12th, 2021
Montana$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
Nebraska$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
New Hampshire$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
North Dakota$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
Ohio$300 FPUCJune 26th, 2021
Oklahoma$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
South Carolina$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 30th, 2021
South Dakota$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
Tennessee$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJuly 3rd, 2021
Texas$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
Utah$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 26th, 2021
West Virginia$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021
Wyoming$300 FPUC, PUA, PEUC, MEUCJune 19th, 2021

Biden Stimulus (American Rescue Plan) PUA Extensions to September 6th, 2021

The PUA program, designed for freelancers, gig workers and independent contractors or those that generally don’t qualify for regular state unemployment has been extended by another 29 weeks (though only covers 25 actual weeks) under the Biden Stimulus Plan (ARP) that has been passed into law.

Under the enhanced unemployment funding extensions the total number of covered weeks in the PUA program will increase to 79. This does not include extra weeks some states provided for residents under this program and would be reduced by any weeks of regular UC and EB that the individual receives during the coverage period. You can see an overview of the federal extensions to date, including PUA, in the diagram below.

The minimum PUA payment is still 50% of a states average weekly benefit amount and limited to the state’s maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA). Another change to the earlier PUA extension (discussed below) is that that the 4-week phaseout period for active claimants has been removed. So all benefits will end by September 6th, even if claimants have a claim balance remaining.

Those who had regular/W2 jobs could technically qualify for the PUA program, but would need to first use up their allocation of regular state unemployment, extended benefits and enhanced unemployment benefits under the PEUC program.

2020 to 2021 Enhanced Unemployment Program Extensions – PUA, PEUC and FPUC (click image to expand)

Do I need to reapply or submit a new claim to get the PUA extension?

This will depend on a state by state basis and if you had exhausted your balance prior to the start of the extension coverage period (on or before March 14th in this case). For most active claimants or those with remaining weeks there should be no need to file a new claim. For those with a lapse in benefits who were getting PUA in the past, a new claim or action to reopen your existing claim could be required. But state unemployment agencies are required to notify on actions required once they update their systems for the extended weeks.


PUA Extensions under $900 billion CAA COVID relief stimulus package

The $900 billion COVID relief stimulus package, under the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) included funding for extending pandemic unemployment programs (PUA, PEUC) and providing supplementary FPUC unemployment benefits at $300 per week for millions of unemployed or underemployed Americans. The Department of Labor (DOL) has issued final guidelines for state unemployment agencies on payments and eligibility (as done with the original program) and any delayed payments will be retroactively reimbursed.

For the PUA program specifically, which was due to expire on December 26th, 2020 (originally funded under the CARES act), there is now funding for an extra 11 weeks. This now means that the PUA program would provide a base total of 50 weeks of coverage. Some states have additional weeks on top of this as part of state extended benefit programs (per earlier updates below). For those with remaining weeks, they will continue to be have their balances carried forward until they hit the new 50 week maximum. They will have until the week ending April 10th, 2021 to claim unemployment benefits under the extended PUA program.

How long is the PUA extension for?

After March 14, 2021, new claimants will no longer be permitted to apply for PUA benefits, but eligible individuals who have a PUA claim balance (or remaining weeks) as of March 14th, 2021 will continue to receive benefits until the week beginning April 5, 2021 until their claim balance is exhausted. Weekly certification will be required. Note however that the $300 extra weekly FPUC won’t be payable during the PUA phase out period (March 14th to April 5th). See which states are paying the extra $300 unemployment to PUA recipients.

Do I need to reapply or submit a new claim to get the PUA extension?

This will depend on a state by state basis and if you had exhausted your balance prior to December 27th, 2020 (when the extension coverage period started). State UI agencies are rolling out the extended PUA coverage and need to incorporate new documentation and fraud prevention measures (see section below) to enable people to claim benefits under the the extended PUA program.

PUA recipients with active claims (remaining weeks/balance) as of or after December 27th. These group of claimants who had not used their 39 week balance at the start of the extended coverage period are already are already seeing the 11 week extension reflected in their UI accounts (including the extra $300 payment) and in several states can continue certifying and receive weekly payments.

There may be a one to two week lapse in payments as state UI agency update systems but your account should automatically reflect the 11 week extension to the PUA program. Even if payments have not started, you should continue your weekly of biweekly certification (where possible) if you continue to be fully or partially unemployed. Payments will be retroactively made

New applicants or those whose PUA claims have been exhausted prior to or including the week ending December 26th, 2020 may need to reapply or reactivate their claim if they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work after December 27, 2020 because of COVID-19. State UI agencies are all implementing the new PUA program extensions based on DOL guidelines based on how their systems/programs can handle the extension and inclusion of new PUA program requirements.

This has meant ongoing delays and limited transparency in payments for many who fall into this bucket of claimants (and it is the large majority of jobless workers). However state UI agencies are mandated to notify claimants if they qualify for the new PUA extension and instructions on how to reopen or refile their claim to enable them to certify to get their UI payments, including the $300 FPUC weekly payment. Please monitory your email, text messages and online UI portal for next steps and instructions. I will continue to post updates as well.

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New PUA Fraud Prevention and Documentation Requirements

To address the significant fraud associated with the PUA program (due to it’s expansive eligibility and antiquated state UI systems that could not support new program rules) the new stimulus bill included some additional measures to tighten up eligibility and claimant verification. This includes the following provisions that are required to be in place by January 31st, 2020:

  • New applicants will have 21 days to submit documentation substantiating their employment, self-employment, or planned commencement of employment/self-employment. 
  • Individuals already receiving PUA benefits (continuing claimants) must provide documentation within 90 days
  • States must implement procedures to validate the identity of claimants and to ensure timely payments. 
  • Employers will be able to report instances to local state UI agencies in which a former employee refuses to return to work or refuses to accept an offer of suitable work without good cause (which renders the individual ineligible for unemployment benefits).

See this video for a summary on these requirements and why they are the underlying cause of significant delays for people to claim or continue getting PUA benefits under the extended coverage period.

$100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation

Another new provision to address gaps with some of the original PUA rules is for those who got a mix of self employment and age income. Individuals who received at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income during 2019 now will receive an additional $100 weekly benefit, in addition to the benefit amounts they otherwise would be entitled to receive from regular state unemployment. 

Previously, such individuals were not eligible for unemployment benefits if they received some regular state unemployment benefits for traditional employment, and regular state law benefits did not consider self-employment in calculating the benefit amounts. The new federally-funded “mixed earner” benefit is in addition to the $300 supplementary FPUC weekly benefit under FPUC.

Backdating of PUA claims – Limitations introduced

Under the COVID relief legislation a new limitation on backdating PUA claims was passed for new applications after December 27th, 2020. Initial or new applications for PUA after December 27, 2020 may not be backdated earlier than December 1, 2020 – which would cover benefits for the week ending December 6th, 2020 in most states. This does not affect existing applications which will be subject to the 2020 CARES act provisions.

The back dating of claims was extended under the Biden ARPA bill which limited had a date of March 14th for back dating of new claims filed after March 11th, 2021.

What if I worked in multiple states, where do I file for PUA?

The DOL has clarified that a self-employed individual must file with the state where he or she was working at the time of becoming unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of an approved COVID-19 related reason. If an individual worked in more than one state at this time, the individual may file in any of those states. So go for the state where you can get the largest weekly benefit (note that the minimum PUA benefit payment is 50% of the states regular UI maximum).

New DOL guidance that expands PUA eligibility to three additional categories of workers:

  • Jobless workers receiving unemployment benefits who had their continued regular unemployment benefits’ claims denied after they refused to work or accept an offer of work at a worksite not in compliance with coronavirus health and safety standards.
  • Workers laid off, or who have had their work hours reduced as a direct result of COVID-19.
  • School employees working without a contract or reasonable assurance of continued employment who face reduced paychecks and no assurance of continued pay when schools are closed due to coronavirus.

Original 2020 PUA program funded under CARES Stimulus Bill

(some items superseded or update by 2021 extensions above)

The PUA program funded under the CARES act provided up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits, which are available retroactively starting with weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 27, 2020, and ending on or before December 31, 2020. To qualify for PUA benefits, you must not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits and be unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of certain health or economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note – PUA benefits have been extended in some states like New York, California and Georgia by 7 weeks, as part of extensions to state level extended benefit programs. Further those who were getting PUA payments in August and September will have automatically qualified for the now expired $300 Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) unemployment benefits program. Most states have now gotten approval and have paid out the 6 weeks of funding available for this program (see full LWA state tracker), including retroactive payments,

While PUA is open to all unemployed Americans, it was mainly intended as a way to provide unemployment benefits for those who were working and are now out of work and were generally self-employed (e.g. independent contractors or gig economy workers) and did not contribute taxes towards regular unemployment. Those who had regular/W2 jobs are eligible for enhanced unemployment benefits under the PEUC program. Further details on program differences below.

Will My PUA Benefits End in December Even if I Have a Balance or Weeks Left to Claim

Unfortunately yes. The program’s federal funding has a hard stop at the end of the year (December 26th in most states). So even if you have a balance or weeks of benefits left after year end, and millions of unemployed workers will be in this boat, you won’t be getting these payments in 2021 unless Congress extends unemployment benefits. Extended state benefits may however be available in states where unemployment rates are higher than pre-specified thresholds (see below for further details). See this video on some recent PUA updates and back payments.

Delays in PUA program payments: State unemployment agencies and labor departments have experienced many challenges in rolling out the PUA program but all are now processing applications and payments for individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or who otherwise would not qualify for regular unemployment compensation prior to new provision in the CARES stimulus bill.

This group of workers however may have a hard time officially proving their wages during the applicable 2019-20 wage based period, in which case their weekly benefit amount will be reduced based on whichever is higher – the record of wages already on file or the minimum PUA weekly benefit amount for the state.

How to Apply for PUA

To apply for unemployment benefits using the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) extension provision approved under the CARES act you need to apply via your regular state’s unemployment agency. Many states have dedicated website links and call numbers when it comes to PUA benefits.

States have mandated that you must first apply for regular UI before becoming eligible for PUA. This is baesd on federal law which only allows PUA to be paid to claimants when benefits are exhausted or if you were deemed not eligible for them – which will be the case for gig and contract workers. While it is a cause of concern for many unemployed Americans making new claims, it is the way their systems are designed to handle the new PUA coverage and provisions.

So even though it may seem like the claim was denied in reality it just means that eligible claimants have been denied for standard unemployment benefits (in place prior to Coronavirus/COVID-19), but will likely qualify for the new PUA benefits. Unfortunately this makes the application process longer and could take a while for you to get your PUA claim approved.

The amount of PUA benefits are calculated based on your previously reported income and capped at the state’s maximum weekly benefit amount (WBA). PUA benefits may not be less than half of the state’s average weekly benefit amount as shown in the table below. Note – There are no minimum wage qualifying criteria for PUA.

Eligible recipients must certify for PUA benefits weekly like regular unemployment. Individuals receiving PUA will also still be eligible for other unemployment supplementary weekly payments (while available). Once they begin certifying for weekly benefits they will not have to take any additional steps, and will receive the weekly $600 payments along with their PUA benefits.

Below are some frequently asked questions and possible answers to common PUA questions I am seeing from readers on this site (see the comments below for more questions and answers).

Will my PUA claim be paid retroactively for back payments (including the $600 FPUC and $300 LWA)?

This varies across states, but generally if you were eligible for PUA in a given week that retroactive UI benefits are payable, you will get the relevant payment for other supplementary enhanced benefit programs. Backdated payments will be paid in one lump-sum one to two weeks after you are deemed eligible for benefits. Note that backdated payments will also include the $600 FPUC payment if you were eligible for PUA during the period the FPUC program was active.

How Long Does PUA Last in 2020?

For those who are eligible for regular benefits, they will get an additional 13 weeks on top of their state unemployment benefits. For those who don’t qualify for state unemployment they can get benefits for between 39 and 46 weeks until the end of 2020. At this stage unless Congress extends the PUA program via a new stimulus package, PUA benefit payments will end at the end of this year.

PUA Unemployment: Moved or worked in multiple states

Generally, you should file your claim in the state where you worked or received income. Or your state of primary residence if income has come from several states as may be common with people who qualify for PUA. If you moved states you will need to reapply in that state for PUA, based on the process they have (varies by state). When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses/location and dates of your former employment. This will allow them to make a determination of your partial benefit.

Right now state systems are not connected and rely on the wage income you provide so you need to be careful of PUA overpayment, which could mean having to pay or taxes or face repayment and penalties from one or more of the states you are in. The program is for 39 weeks to 46 weeks (depending on state) in total. You are not supposed to double dip across state lines and eventually will be flagged.

Based on some of the comments to this article, if you are having to apply for PUA across multiple states there is a good chance you will be flagged for a fraudulent claim. So be patient and prepared to go through a verification process based on the state UI agency guidelines.

Are PUA benefits taxable?

Yes, like all unemployment benefits PUA is considered taxable income and you may elect to have withholding taxes deducted from your payment (generally around 10%). You will receive Form 1099-G with form your state UI agency to file with your 2020 income taxes in 2021.

Note that the Biden administration, via the ARPA stimulus bill, got approved a $10,2000 unemployment income tax exclusion that is being paid out by the IRS as an additional refund.

Child Support or Dependent Payments Deductions

Child support obligations will be deducted from PUA, as they would with normal state unemployment. You can file an injured spouse form to mitigate this.

Why was my PUA claim denied?

Most PUA claims that do finally get processed by the state unemployment department/agency are being denied or rejected because the claimant is eligible for standard, state-funded unemployment insurance rather than federally funded PUA. Because the PUA application process and/or link is different to the regular state unemployment application process, it is highly recommended you apply for regular state unemployment first. Only if you are denied for regular state UI (and you will be notified that you are) should you then apply for PUA.

Other reasons PUA claims are being denied are due to ongoing “glitches” in unemployment filing systems/websites that have required a lot more updates to support the new PUA provisions.

Fraud checks or additional document verification where many UI applications are being flagged has also been cited as a big reason for PUA delays/rejections. This is not surprising since may gig workers and contractors don’t have standard unemployment documentation and so require extra verification and fraud checks. If you are caught up in a fraud check, please ensure to provide the required information to your state agency (who will contact you) to keep your claim processing moving forward.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefit payment delays

Other than being flagged for Fraud, many readers are reporting PUA application processing and payment delays if you have multiple people using your address for UC, PUA, EB, etc. Or if you moved, bills in other people’s names, etc is causing delays. 

I cannot get ahold of anyone when I call for help.

Despite dedicated phone lines for PUA claims many readers are reporting it is nearly impossible to get a hold of a live person to speak to at their state UI agency regarding their unemployment claim. You can see the comments below for some ideas to try, but generally will take a lot of patience and calling in “off” hours to get through. Because of the pandemic and record high call volumes, you may need to try alternative methods like social media or going via your state congressional leaders to try and expedite your claim.

PUA vs PEUC and State Extended Benefits (EB)

The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and State Extended Benefits (EB) programs are different to the PUA program and claimants cannot continue in the PEUC or EB programs if they are deemed eligible for PUA. The PEUC is essentially an extension of regular state unemployment (funded under the CARES act) and allows for up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits added to the end of regular unemployment benefits. EB are an extension of UI benefits that occurs when a state meets the unemployment rate threshold for a designated period. For most states this provides up to 20 weeks of additional benefits.

Please note, if you had received UC or EB benefits and then apply for PUA, any week of regular UC benefits or any week of state extended benefits (EB) collected since February 2, 2020 will be deducted from the weeks of PUA you are eligible for. 

State
(Click State For Details)
PUA State Contact NumberPaying Original 39 weeks (CARES)?Paying 11-Week 2021 Extension?
AlabamaY
AlaskaY
ArizonaYY
ArkansasY
California1-800-300-5616YY
ColoradoY
ConnecticutY
DelawareYY
District of ColumbiaYY
FloridaY
GeorgiaY
HawaiiY
IdahoY
Illinois1-800-244-5631Y
IndianaYY
IowaY
KansasY
KentuckyY
LouisianaY
MaineY
MarylandYY
MassachusettsYY
MichiganYY
MinnesotaY
MississippiY
MissouriY
MontanaY
NebraskaY
NevadaY
New HampshireY
New JerseyNorth Jersey: 201-601-4100
Central Jersey: 732-761-2020
Southern Jersey: 856-507-2340
Y
New MexicoYY
New York1-833-491-0632
1-833-324-0366 (to certify)
Y
North CarolinaYY
North DakotaY
Ohio1-877-644-6562Y
OklahomaY
OregonY
Pennsylvania1-855-284-8545Y
Puerto RicoY
Rhode IslandYY
South CarolinaY
South DakotaY
TennesseeY
Texas1-800-939-6631Y
UtahY
VermontYY
Virginia1-866-832-2363 YY
WashingtonY
West VirginiaY
WisconsinY
WyomingY
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849 thoughts on “The End of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – Future Extensions, Retroactive and Claim Back Payment Issues”

  1. To Andy or anyone who can tell maybe what I can or should do next.Or if I have to file paperwork for backdating my claim to my original claim date which I never thought we’d have to fight so hard to get something they offered us to help us. Some of us have lost more than we’d ever imagine and they said we’d get our money. Out of the 14 months since I applied I’ve only gotten 6 1/2 wks of payments and letter saying I approved for the extension but now I finally speak to someone and now they say checking into my claim, which has not changed I met all the criteria and lost my car n my pride among other things they can’t replace and this BS…… Do defeated and at my witts end.Any words of wisdom please please send my way. Kentucky

    Reply
    • Going through the same thing but they made a decision without ever giving me a chance to prove my case now both of. My employers have passed from covid and I am fighting the remnants of covid after being exposed from my employers now pay says I’m ineligible indefinitely I’m at my wits end as well

      Reply
  2. i believe I made two costly mistakes because I misunderstood the intructions, but in Colorado I didnt get $600.00 forf quite a while like everyone else did I only recieved $300.00do I have any recourse in getting that money that everyone else did, and second when a recertification period came the question was asked did I wantt to back date the form I put no fearing a audi because I didnt fully understand the reasoning but since have been explained it and told I should of back date it because I made myself lose a substatial sum my family and I could use again is there any recourse for getting any of that money I was eligible for but didnt get? thank you for any response.

    Reply
  3. Well I have a letter from ohio pua stating that I was eligible for pua after receiving it for a year and they stopped it sent all the necessary paperwork over and they claim they cant prove I work or reside in the United States. I still dont have a social security card that I’ve been waiting for for over a month. But they had my w2 forms and picture Id plus birth certificate. A shame this people act like I’m committing fraud even though I proved I worked with my w2 forms.

    Reply
    • Trying to summit my weekly claim and its not sumit
      And i still have 18 weeks left that I’ve worked for. So what’s is the out come of what to do for my reminding payment

      Reply
    • Which state? Each has different rules and you will likely need to contact your state UI agency rep to get your back dated claim reviewed and payments reinstated.

      Reply
  4. Impossible to contact the EDD, hours on hold, can’t get information…. I worked as a manicurist… now that “social distancing” is removed, I could return to work (most salons lacked sufficient room for distancing) but several clients say they don’t feel comfortable going back onto the small salon, some have moved away, some say they are doing their nails at home, many have lost their jobs. So, is this still covered by option “j”? on the EDD form? Even though covid restrictions have “ended”? I was in two stores today, all of them still had masks and distancing required. People are still frightened. The EDD has been overwhelmed and local political representation, unresponsive. One friend had fraud on her EDD account, has not received a check since last spring, fortunately, she was able to return to work part time last fall. Everyone she spoke to at the EDD, did not know what to do, gave her phone numbers no one answered, or wrong information.
    Things are not going to snap back to “what was” for many workers
    Especially difficult for independent contractors who pay a weekly rent for a site of station, who have lost so much of their following after more than a year, lost the potential for work sites for closures and, are concerned about media suggestions of another quarantine in the fall, financial assistance we would not qualify for since we cannot immediately develop a clientele… factors our leadership, seem to ignore

    We didn’t have the specifics we needed during quarantine, no surprise to not be hearing how these issues are going to be addressed now…

    Reply
    • I have an open claim since may 3 2020 and haven’t heard much at i have returned each and every thing they asked for got denied saying I did t turn documents in on time I appealed and got allow in the appeal because I faxed the documents that was sent in they got original one I keep my copy but any way found that my papers we actually in 4 days before dew so I don’t understand what’s going on I have lost bout every thing with no work thanks to family who struggled for themselves and me as well ,,,I wanna know when I should receive my retro before I any thing else please answer and help me

      Reply
      • Have you heard anything about you your pay? I am in the same exact boat I keep being denied saying can’t show good cause yet under the cares act as long as long as you applied on or before December 27, 2020 you will receive retroactive pay. Now I have been given a notice that I was overpaid 15000 I’ve never even received 15000 they’re saying my paperwork was not given when asked when it was. I had another hearing today that judge sees all my paperwork is there so idk what is going to happen today is for the retro pay then in November I have it for the 15000 overpayment. I will let you know and plz let me know what is going on with yours. I’m in NM

        Reply
  5. I apply for pua March long time I’m waiting until 5/13 I got first payment so what about previous weeks form The date claimed from march

    Reply
  6. I first claimed June 2020 and was accepted every payment was 0.00 again in jan 2021 but again accepted and has been 0.00, now the extensions in April 2021 my payments are 0.00. I’m under investigation and I’ve tried to call over and over and sent atleast 15 emails but noone is answering me and I have went almost a year with filing every 2 weeks and always 0.00 but no explanation and received acceptance letters for all.

    Reply
    • Honestly I’m in the same Boat I thought my was just me I’ve been claiming since February and still nothing I’m worried they’re going to take so to dispute the money, it’ll already be September when it ends

      Reply
  7. I won a P.U.A. appeal and received retroactive 2020 payments in 2021. I was told by E.D.D. that there was no 1099G to file for 2021 taxes since payment was made in 2021. I have read that I.R.S. does not tax $10,200 of 2020 unemployment benefits paid. Will that apply to when I file in 2022 adding the 2020 payments as income?

    Reply
    • How did you win a Pua appeal? how do I go about contacting them ?because I am being told that I do not qualify for Pua in the beginning of 2020 because I was pregnant but that is being told to me by the unemployment office

      Reply
      • I was given an account number when signing up and submitted 2019 self employment income info. as requested. E.D.D. replied by mail showing incorrect 2019 income amount and incorrect date of filing (before P.U.A.) denying benefits. After calling and emailing them to no avail I contacted local assemblyman in my area, gave them a release form so they could speak on my behalf. I mailed a letter to E.D.D. and it was not replied to. The next letter I certified and had proof of receipt but they said they didn’t get it. The assemblyman’s office re sent it along with the appeal form. Finally a phone interview was scheduled where I was able to explain multiple errors on their part and payment was made finally. All I can suggest is persevere but I think the assemblyman’s contact got their attention. Good Luck.

        Reply
  8. I was laid off April 2020 no problem was instructed through gov2go site I did everything I was told to do my year end is not until April 17 2021 but i file weekly as told uploaded documents and then Week ending 02/20/2021 is last I got paid I can’t get through to unemployment commission and I am confused they now owe me 02/27 2021 through 04/10/2021 7 weeks what to do allows me to file but gives me nothing then today I get a message to file claim that was due February 2021 but if I file will I lose all those weeks I have been waiting on this is a struggle I need advise can’t get anyone in Virginia VEC to talk to me have emails nothing can anybody help

    Reply
  9. TO: ANDY
    Andy, I wrote you recently on the subject of whether I could get retroactive PUA payments for the 3 weeks between the week in late February, 2021 when my PUA payments were abruptly stopped because my state (IL) was removed from the HUP program — and, the week of 3/14/21, when my PUA payments resumed, under President Biden $1.9 billion relief act.
    You suggested that I call IDES and see if I could get those “missed” weeks of benefits retroactively paid under the CAA Act.
    Today I received a phone call from IDES and was told that for that period of weeks between the expiration of the Cares Act and the resumption of my PUA benefits under the new relief act, that there was no provision for payment of those 3 weeks, under ANY bill or IDES protocol
    I assume this question has come up from others in Illinois under the same circumstances as me, so on behalf of those people, I wanted to let you know IDES’s “official position” on that issue.

    Reply
    • Congratulations you actually got a straight answer from ides. My assumption was that the letter of determination stating HUP was in place actually applied to those 3 weeks also so I have not gotten retro pay either. The one call I did get back in regards to that situation had no idea what I was even talking about so you were lucky. Assuming they were right.

      Reply
    • There’s a lot of people that are getting caught up in didn’t do your job search when in fact they did since the Govenor set the cut off date, I think they are just trying to find reasons not to pay people.There are also, people that have been cut off since 9/20 for failure to provide documentation that have provided it, been told they had it and they never started paying them again just kept telling them they have to wait their time just to keep certifying themselves they will get it.Well they didn’t on June 26 they expired out their open claims with no explanation and people were counting on that money.There are people that filed claims last year that they never approved or denied are still waiting and the ones that did get approved they approved for a month in 2021 not when they applied and have been waiting for months for it and again told every time they called that it’s first come first serve, they will get to them or one time they want you to upload your information into your documents and another will say no you have to fax that info.to us or they can’t see the claimants side where they’ve uploaded everything and having to keep resending the same documents or your stuff just disappeared from your documents so that delays your claim again not for weeks for months.
      They denied claimants for fraud and they are the claimant and have spoke with them on the phone themselves and have sent in drivers license, birth certificates and even went thru that ID.me that they hired to help illuminate the fraud and then when a claimant told them they even went thru ID.me they told them that didn’t have anything to do with them.They are requiring these people if they received any money to pay it back.If people did not submit what they were doing job wise pryor to applying for the Pandamic they would have to pay the money back.Why should they have to pay money back that they were approved to get.You had to provide all that when applying and they approved you but now they gonna try to make claimants pay it back because maybe they didn’t send it a 2nd time, they approved it based on that and several other pieces of information..People have been struggling all along because unemployment hasn’t tried to help people with their claims they tried to hunt for fraud and ways to make them have to pay it back.why give it to people if they have to pay it back.I guess that’s not going to cause a hardship on the still unemployed.
      People are now without anything, mortgages, light bills, waterbills, groceries, car payments, amount other bills what will they do now?Some people don’t make a Govenors salary..there are poor people and even medium salaried people that don’t make that kind of salary that have children also..I think the people of South Carolina deserve to be treated better, some of these people will loose everything and some of them already have and some are homeless now.Cut some of these Senators, Govenors and people sitting in positions that they don’t have to worry about their next meal or how they going to pay for something and see how it feels.

      Reply
      • You are so right!!! I live in South Carolina and have been trying to get PUA benefits since July 2020. I have talked to numerous Government Officials in SC. I have emailed every Official at the SC DEW. Sent every document they have required, including Tax Returns of proof of my business. Long Story Short, I appealed to the Appellate Panel and after 5 months of waiting on a hearing, they claim that I did not file for a hearing after 4 people from SC DEW stayed they had all the needed. Just be patient, they stated for a hearing date. I was so frustrated, angry, stressed out, behind on everything including my mortgage. My husband and I are struggling to stay above water. I now have to send all my documents AGAIN to the Appellate Panel get denied again, because of 10 day deadline and wait another 2 to 3 months for an Appellate Panel Appeal. Why did they wait 5 months to tell me this when I verified every month they had what they needed. It is a disgrace that SC DEW is not more efficient and knowledgeable or care about the citizens of SC

        Reply
  10. Hi. I’m from AZ. So I was filing and receiving benefits regularly up until July 25th of 2020. My payments just stopped out of nowhere. I was still certifying every week yet not getting paid. Then end of December I recieve the email stating that in order to remain eligible for benefits that I need to verify my identity via id.me . So yeah that hole process was ridiculous but needless to say I was finally able to verify my identity with a trusted referee last Saturday and so was able to file my claim tonight. My question is for all of those prior weeks I certified but wasn’t receiving anything due to the Id me thing will I recieve retroactive payments now that I’ve successfully verified my identity?

    Reply
  11. TO ANDY:
    Andy, I live in Illinois, and like many other PUA recipients in IL, I received a message from IDES that IL was no longer qualified for the extended weeks of benefits as a High Unemployment Period state, and thus my benefit payments stopped as of the week of 1/21/21.

    I recently got 25 weeks of extended PUA benefits posted on my IDES account, and received the first of those weekly benefit payments last Monday, for the week of 3/14 to 3/20/21.

    My question is: I am eligible for retroactive payments under the new relief bill for the three weeks I did not get benefit payments under the HUP situation, earlier this year…i.e., the weeks of 1/21,21 1/28/21, and 3/7/21, and if so, how do I get those payments?

    Will appreciate, if possible, a direct reply to my email address (I actually don’t know how to check your web site and find a reply to my inquiry on it).

    Reply
    • No….the new bill is only in effect from 3/15 (week ending 3/20) in IL and as such retro payments only go till then. You should try and see if you can get the PUA under the CAA act (extended for 11 weeks) but will likely require you to talk to an IDES agent to process it.

      Reply
  12. Illinois is in a HUP system with the Federal Govt that stops payments once the jobless rate falls below the national average. This was a Federal extension and was never stated to individuals why this was used during a Pandemic.. Myself like others on PUA where totally blindsided by this and now left wondering what to do.
    The new stimulus does not change any new payment amounts like previous packages other than the length of
    coverage. I contacted DOL and they will look into it. There was no language in any extension regarding jobless rates connected to unemployment during a pandemic.
    Also i read that the new stimulus is to backdate to the month it was signed. 03/01 to individuals that did not receive their benefits?

    Reply
    • Did you ever get clarification from IDES regarding the HUP and PUA??
      So I got a call from IDES today. It took about 2 weeks for the call back. I asked about the notice of determination from March 3rd, 2021 referring to the inelegibility for benefits due to the HUP (high unemployment period) ending in Illinois still being on my file. The person I spoke to didn’t know the answer and said she’d check with her supervisor so I waited and finally she just read back the notice to me and said I should fax or mail in the appeal letter asap. I don’t think she got clarification from a supervisor as I asked her numerous questions regarding the American Rescue Plan Act repealing the HUP in Illinois, the fact I have gotten paid for the last 2 weeks, and the fact that I had gotten information from many people not to appeal this determination. She said no you need to appeal if you want to continue to get benefits. I’m so damn confused now I don’t know what to do. I told her that a lot of people must be misinformed as to what to do and that they needed to appeal this and she said oh yes a lot people don’t know about this. ???

      Reply
  13. I’ve been waiting almost ten months and have not gotten anywhere took the issue to the ohio house of representatives and they said they will help they did but odjfs said same old bullshit I’m still screwed have nothing gotten nothing and fed up beyond fed up those criminals got paid asap with no i.d. social birth records nothing but I’m outside lost it all

    Reply
    • Dean, I feel your pain. I have been fighting to get my PUA benefits, or any benefits at all, for 12 months. My State Reps office never responded to my request for help. I emailed our Governor here in Missouri yesterday and today my stuff in the DES system looks a little different. Someone may actually be working on it but I am not going to get my hopes up yet. Even if they fix the issues, backdate and approve every week for the last year, and hit the PAY NOW button, it could still take weeks to get to me. Reach out to your Governor’s Constituent Services department and see if that helps. Good luck. Hang in there. Don’t give up the fight.

      Reply
      • I don’t know to whom I need to call. I certify always, but didn’t receive PUA since February 2021. I did not receive any letter about verification. Very stressful situation. Maybe someone knows to whom I need to contact in Southern California?

        Reply
        • I am in the same boat in Missouri. Got PUA just fine then boom March nothing at all no help to call and never got a letter

        • Like Kate, I am in Missouri and am confused. The December stimulus bill provided benefits of $300 per week for 11 weeks – through the week ending March 13, 2021. I received 9 weeks, then the first two weeks of March, nothing – says DUA PENDING. Filed for the week ending March 20, because the latest 19 TRILLION dollar stimulus package extends out to September – and for the week ending March 20th, as of today my weekly claim was processed and is also showing DUA PENDING, which makes no sense whatsoever. I am not on a DUA claim (Disaster Unemployment). I am on a PUA CLAIM (self-employed, gig worker). Unfortunately, I have had NO CONTRACTS since the first lockdown in March of 2020. I can only HOPE that something will change and soon – I won’t explain what I do for a living or what businesses I am in, but I have had NOTHING for a year now. A YEAR! I am 60 years YOUNG and the only unemployment I ever received in my entire lifetime was when I was in my 20’s, back in the 1980’s, and that was for 3 weeks.

        • And it doesn’t look like we will get the $300 boost until sometime in April and allegedly won’t be retroactive.

        • Hi O, what I did was found out who my State Representative was and emailed her office. I’ve been reaching out to all the numbers I could think of, and emailed them as well.. Still NOTHING.. is the waiting game now. I just do want this to take almost a year like others.
          My claim was Filed 3/14/21 & my BYE populated to 4/3/21 (just 3 weeks) it didn’t give me a year BYE ( benefit year end) like I’m supposed to have.. I was approved no outstanding issues, no holds all clear. Then 4/3/21 came, and my claim became inactive due to my BYE date only.. I don’t understand what’s happening with my PUA claim, other then it might need to manually updated, but our PUA unemployment Representatives don’t have the Authority nor Power to make any updates. All they see is what we see as well, when we log on in our claims. Sorry for log comment I’m just airing out.. I just continue to Pray.. I dont know what’s worse, NOT being able to file my weekly certification or being able to file weekly & not getting paid.
          As this point all I can do is hold on to H.O.P.E. We must not ever stop hoping. Hope I made sense..

      • I did the same I waited until Feb this year to apply for benefits here in Georgia.. Got a paper telling me how much I would receive and to this date still no help.. It’s upsetting because I’ve worked all my life and can’t get help… But people who are scamming has gotten it… I had to id my self.. I’ve emailed the commissioner still no help.. Can’t get a hold of anyone at the ui office. It’s really overwhelming since I’ve been out of work since November

        Reply
    • Same exact thing is happening to me right now in Arizona. And I know of numerous people got paid that didn’t even ever worked a day of their life! Am I bitter? Damn right I am!! Not fair!!

      Reply
    • Dean I am in the same boat I’ve been fighting for my backpay since October for PUA they keep denying me that I did not show good cause to apply sooner. Which all of that was explained that I had but NM was not set up yet and when it did were told to not reapply and it would kick it over into PUA so I waited and waited and it was not accepting my credentials Until I sent an email that eventually found its way n finally in October I applied yet was told as long as I had proof of my last day of employment i would be paid retroactive pay. Yet I keep getting denied my last appeal the Chief of secretary remanded back to redetermination to follow the USDL guidelines 16-20 which states if applied before December 27 2020 retroactive payment could be taken back all the way to Feb 6 2020 if applied after December 27 retroactive pay 2wks I received another denial today not under Pua guidelines again under DUA and regular U I not good cause but said I can appeal the process from the beginning I said it’s taken a year to get this far and yet they did not do what secretary asked them yet I’ve been told to stop recertification cause I’m going to be in overpayment I’ve been told that the denial also because what they would have to back pay would put me in overpayment so they can’t back pay me I’ve been told that they’re basically sitting on til closer to ending then it will be denied cause it’s over. I never stopped recertification cause I knew if I did that I’d be screwed. The lady did tell me when it comes September and I’m still fighting it that it will end September 6 cause there is no more money. Yeah because you gave it to all the criminals who never worked a day in their life someone help what do I do i have nothing more to lose really I’m doing all I can to keep a roof over my step kids head but we are not going to have it for much longer I’ve been depending on that retroactive pay that I borrowed against it because it clearly stated that we would be paid

      Reply
    • What ever you fo DO NOT GIVE UP. Keep writting to yr representative in yr state… They have people who that work for them inside the deo… Keep calling & emailing Be persistent.. don’t give up… keep challenging the system.. Someone will answer you … Do not give up…

      Reply
  14. I’m in Tennessee. I filed back in January and getting ready to file for 7th certification this week. I’m self-employed and I submitted all documents that were asked for along with a copy of my 2019 Tax returns. I got a PUA wage determination message that says I am eligible for $163 a week ( and I assume the $300 under the PUA extension). I received my card and it shows payments “in progress” but when I check my status on the unemployment claim tracker it says my claim is still under review. Also shows ” active issue ” when I check my dashboard.
    My question is since I am self-employed care giver are they waiting to verify my lack of work as a result of covid? The only person that was still letting me work told me to hold off coming to work until their father I was caregiving for got his vaccination in two weeks ( I was exposed to omeone with covid that previous weekend so they didn’t want to take chance) and before that period was up the person’s father ended suddenly dying. They sent in lack of work signed letter.
    I mean technically I was temporarily out of work because of covid but now I can’t go back because they died and nobody else I caregive for have work for me? So frustrating not being able to talk to a human being.
    Any advice/comments appreciated.

    Reply
  15. I feel like a dummy,
    I filed for the pua and it goes back 6 or 7 weeks.
    I didn’t know you had to put your work searches. So they all say reject.
    Will they let me fix this mistake. I can’t get ahold of anyone today.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • This has happened as well, but thru-out my journey with PUA I WAS PERSISTENT… I used my representitives in my cty .. district offices.. I gather as many places I can call or email about my current situations. They have people that they will connect with inside help hidden within the deo system…emai.. email.. email.. call. call., .. calllllllll
      …. Do not give up.. Someone will get intouch with you via email and if they do not email yr state rep again again again.!! DO NOT GIVE Up.. persistency.. persistency….

      Reply
    • They say if you go and do your job searches you will get the weeks they didn’t pay you for..It simply says they won’t get paid until they done their job searches.

      Reply
  16. I’m not sure if anyone else on here is from Nevada. But if you are and have similar/the same issues. Please feel free to respond to this. So we can try and see if there’s anything we can do. But my situation is this…. I applied for PUA in the middle of last year. And I uploaded everything that I was asked to (as far as documentation). And on the website. It says claims will be processed within a couple of weeks. So after a few weeks. I started calling their 1-800 number. And when/if I ever got through. I’d get the same positive sounding person. That would tell me they were pulling up my claim, that all of my required documents were in order (one of them even said something about writing out a declaration stating that I lived and worked in the state of Nevada. And that I had not been outside of the United States in the last 12 months! Sometimes I’d be on hold for 2,3, or 4 hours. And my call would just get disconnected for some reason. And this went on (practically weekly) until Nov. 2nd, 2020. Then I finally get a message. And it says that I have 48 hours to upload a copy of my business license. So I looked up the laws in the N.R.S. (Nevada Revised Statute) where it says that there are certain requirements to having to get a business license. And uploaded a letter in response stating that I didn’t have one (and a copy of the N.R.S. showing “WHY” I didn’t have one)!!! So I appealed it on Nov. 3rd 2020. Yet just a few weeks ago. I spoke with someone that insinuated that he’d been working for DETR for a long time. And he tells me that “I” don’t have to upload a copy of a business license. He’s not sure why they said that! And that he knew the rules very well. Well, I just recently got a message saying that they’ll let me know (basically whenever they feel like it) when my appeal hearing will be scheduled for. And then…. what’s really funny! Is that the courts ordered them if they started paying/paid and took back a payment. That they had until Christmas to finish paying/pay the money out that they took back. Well when it came time for them to go in and show the judge. Where they were good little boys/girls. And had followed the judges orders. All of a sudden, on my claimant homepage. It showed that I was paid $1,267. But “I” wasn’t paid anything. Then after a few days (when the judge bought their B.S.! And they were in the clear. All of a sudden)!!! When I looked on my homepage. POOF! It was like that never happened. But Surprise!!! I took a screenshot of it! So they can’t call me a liar. And now on my homepage. It shows that I’ve never been paid anything. But every week. When I get to the end of filing my weekly claim. There it is… I was (SUPPOSEDLY) paid $1,267 (And I took a screenshot of that also)!!! They keep crying “WE’VE BEEN FRAUDED” “WE’VE BEEN FRAUDED”!!!!!!! Well the last time I checked. I’ve done and provided “EVERYTHING” that I was told/asked to. Soooo, to fraudulently deny my claim. Because I didn’t upload a copy of a document that is not required to (by there procedures/by law). And then to fraudulently state that I’ve been paid something that I haven’t. Hmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!! Let’s see here….. My question to them is…WHO’S REALLY FRAUDING WHO”?!?!?!

    Reply
    • I am in the same situation however I was approved in may last year then in october i recieved 5 denials. I waited and waited then finally in february I had appealwith referee who reversed the denial waited until today the day before my birthday to get a denial again stating that i was not self employed and i was not unemployed due to the china virus and mind you… 4 days ago after speaking to 12 different reps over the last months who all saw my case and were all extremely confused as to why i was denied to begin with then reversed and still waiting all this time they bumped it up faster i get a request for proof of income which i uploaded workorders a personal statement as to how the virus caused the closure of my livelihood which i explained that my clientele have no money for my services, others have fear of contracting it, My children have t be homeschooled i have a weak imune system and asthma yet still daily seek work! The state is closed down and at no fault of my own! They wanted verification of my living at my address which i sent lease copy, and they wanted my bank info for direct deposite! if I did not submit the info within 48 hours then they would pay me the amount that the info they have on file would reult in. Top it off, both my chidren are suicidal and one has droped out of school, we are about to lose our home we rarely have food in our home were all depressed and tomorrow is my birthday an they denied me tonight again! I need an attorney who will take my case for free! this is absurd Las Vegas Go figure!

      Reply
    • I live in Nevada and we appar6have 2 separate Systems here. 1 for regular unemployment benefits * 2 for PUA only. My Claim was filed 3/14/21 & didn’t populate 1 yr out for my BYE ( benefit year end) it said 4/3/21 just 3 weeks after I filed. I was approved & had no outstanding issues nor holds etc.. I Filed my weekly got paid all was well,
      I go in to fill on 4/3/21 and it said my claim is inactive and I can no longer file any futher weeks due to my BYE!!??? I dont understand what happened. It also showed a dated of review Eligibility on 4/18/21.. but that apparently didn’t happen because I seen no change. Called PUA which they cant do anything to help us. They only see what we see in our claims.. They can’t make any manual changes or updates etc.. They’re also giving out false information and telling others to refill your claim. Which this will through your claim all off. I have no clue why hire people for PUA and not give them the Power or Authority to really help. They’re as confused as we are. Is like they’re only there to buy time. Just to give false hope. What I don’t understand is why we’re the only few States that has a separate system for UNEMPLOYMENT & the regular unemployment office can’t help.. Sorry for my long comment.. I’ve emailed our State Representative Dina TITUS about this. I’ve read we can & we should let them know what’s going on. Maybe they can help PRAYING FOR PATIENCE AND ALL WHO ARE SUFFERING DUE TO ALL THIS STUFF..

      Reply
    • My daughter had a situation almost like yours.She provided all the documents even more than what was required by anyone else.She has proven that she was a candidate for the PUA but because she wrote on her application when applying how was she suppose to prove her business loss was all due to the Pandamic?They denied her and stated she would have to provide proof that she lost business due to the Pandamic and since she couldn’t she was denied.She said, she didn’t say she couldn’t she said ,how? What would be the expectations of that or guide lines because we watched the videos they put out and the lawyer speaking for them stated he could not find one senerio if you applied you wouldn’t be approved.If you had a side job picking up cans on the side of the road apply.
      Well how would he be proving what the can shortage on the side the road was due to the pandamic.since then she’s appealed and the last minute of the hour they were to have the hearing unemployment called and said they would have to reschedule because the hearing officer was out.My daughter wrote if someone would just take a few minutes to review my claim and look at the documentation IV provided a hearing would not be necessary but several months later another hearing was scheduled which she missed because one of het kids missed the bus so she ran to take him to school leaving her phone on the kitchen table.When she returned home she realized she had left the phone in a gadt to get him to school.called them and the lady that answered the phone said , Miss you will get our decision in the mail.They would not let her speak with anyone and she was 10 minutes off from the appt., of course she was denied and she appealed it but never got another hearing, they never acknowledged it and later put a thing on het portal to reapply she did but she’s never got anything.Her claim was still opened when they expired everyone else’s out when SC cut everyone off but since then it’s been closed with no explanation, no money.
      She should have at least got the money for having 2 kids and the schools closed.she qualified like 3 different was and proved it but SC won’t look at the original claim and what happened.They have to have a hearing for a missed telephone call and why she missed that then there will be another hearing addressing the original claim.They waste a lot of hours, money on dumb stuff like providing jobs and then telling them don’t work to hard.They move at a snail’s pace and could care less if you get money.

      Reply
      • WOW!!!! Iam in the same situation as your daughter.Literally in the EXACT same position. I have called and emailed every high level persons of contact at SCDEW. The governor’s office, and local senators. NOTHING has been resolved. I am immonocompromised, and was advised by my doctor not to return to work at this time. no benefits since 08/2020 and they want me to pay back the money from the fisrt UI payout that i recieved for a few months before they stopped it. I sent in all information. Call every single day, nothing has worked. I’m so frustrated, trying to not give up. Have had appeals they dont even let me have a phone hearing they just mail me a decision. Can’t speak with any managers, or supervisors just Customer service (most are rude, and just hang up on you). Tell you exactly what you already know and can see in portal. Literally feel like I’m at a standstill. I am past struggling! I have put my family in a bind due to helping me when they hadn’t expected to. so sad to hear all of these stories. KEEP FIGHTING!!

        Reply
        • DETR is laundering federal funds meant for the citizens of this state
          Thru (2) companies that work for the state –
          I hoping these audits that are starting they will go after captive insurance contractors-

      • Nevada has a very bad Government intact right now – I have someone that worked in the NV government and they have been laundering federal emergency funds- PUA they are going to be in big trouble audits are happening soon- Keep filing for an appeal because they want you to stop the process – get a hold of your representatives and tell them that are withholding your rightful claims-
        DETR was told do ever they can to deny and keep the funds- DETR reports are aggregate form which means NO accountability to the labour dept.. Example we paid 125,000 claimants to the tune of 5.3 million for the month of June- BS
        No names attached with SS numbers DETR had paid less than 2% claim money- also does your daughter she that when she does her weekly certs that they say they paid her like me $1,267.0” then you go to next page of the weekly cert and it says 0 paid
        There is no date so they could be holding those incase their audited and it’s a lie-
        Keep appealing- I am fighting till we win!!!
        Blessings
        K in RENO this

        Reply
    • That was weird , I just typed my whole story and went to hit send and the page disappeared and said ah snap need to reload. Everything I typed was gone. So I’ll make it shorter. I’m in Nevada and been treated like a pile of shit by Detr since the beginning. I am a gig worker, do handyman work and auto repair. I am the individual they created this assistance for. I applied in March ofv2020. Was approved the next day then denied a week later for various reasons, submitted all documents they requested. Back to approved again, week later denial letter again saying I qualify for regular unemployment band that I have to be denied by them to qualify for PUA. So I applied for regular unemployment and was denied of course uploaded the denial letter and approved again. The approval then denials happened 2 more times with a notice saying I need to appeal the decision. So on July 8th 2020 I filed one. On November 3 of 2021 I received a notice of a hearing on the 10th of November at 8:15 am and they will be calling the number in the system for me. On Nov 1st I got a new number and uploaded it then verified it removed the old number. On November 5 I received a letter saying I am approved for PUA. Ok again. I uploaded that letter. On the 10th at 8:15 no phone call. I called in and asked why I didn’t get a call she said they called the wrong number and apologized. She also said since I am approved there is no need for the appeal and that is what they were going to tell me anyway. Ok makes sense. 2 days later I get a notice of result of hearing saying my appeal was dismissed because I was a no show. Blood boiling, rage building… I drafted a letter and uploaded it then called to make sure some saw it. I call in every day and get the same thing they don’t have any idea when I will be paid just keep checking the portal.
      Todd

      Reply
  17. My pua claim been denied because I failed to show adequate verification of identity i was able to certify backdated but now my payment status say weeks denied is the reason because my pua application was denied could somebody please help me

    Reply
    • When they asked for proof of identity in Ohio the driver license and social security card would not upload to the system. You could try to reduce the file size of the photo that you upload to the computer file that you send. That reduction in file size worked fine in sending copies of income tax documents but nothing worked sending filed of ID because it went to a different portal. I know this because I sent the ID files to both portals as an experiment.
      You could send those files to your state representative and senator along with a letter explaining that the state has a defective interface that does not work. This can also serve the purpose of documenting that you have been trying and trying to get it sent in and that might help establish and backdate your file.
      I helped a person with this strategy and we found an address that supposedly accepted a paper copy of the documents which had to be included with a downliadable form. We sent it certified mail and tracked it to delivery and the hotline said that it was not possible. So back to the politicians and the state finally said that payment was started. . The file state “payment sent” However,it should have arrived by now. Ohio had a 900000 backlog on payments and it is frightful to contemplate if they screw it up and send it out under the wrong bank account number through their careless handling

      Reply
    • I am waiting for my PUA I have provided all documents went to rcc office in person to verify identity and I been waiting since 12/16/20 in Missouri this state is ran by bunch of slow moving tards especially the governor

      Reply
  18. I applied for PUA and was told that I needed to restart my regular claim first, and if denied THEN I could apply for PUA. I did that… was denied so applied again for the PUA. Then I received an email that said I didnt qualify for PUA because I was eligible for regular UI. Then I got another letter that said I didnt qualify for PUA because more than 52 weeks had passed (which it hadnt) and then I got another letter saying that I didnt qualify for PUA – BUT that my PUA benefits would be getting decreased by $130 per week (I get a pension of a little over $500/month) due to my pension (that still leaves me $470/week. I tried calling UI but it just kept ringing busy. I KNOW I qualify as I had to quit due to covid (Dr said due to my health). Not sure what to do now

    Reply
  19. My benefit year ended for collecting PUA for gig workers, I received an email to reapply. Can I just apply right away on the PUA application page or do I have to apply for regular unemployment and get denied first? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Be very careful… because my boyfriend and I reapplied right away back when it ended for us in October. It said not to apply until December 24th and so we did.
      Then on December 25th we get a big red message that said DONT DO ANYTHING, IF YOU ARE ALREADY APPLIED Then just sit and wait basically until further instructions.
      So when he and I jumped the gun we didn’t get paid when everyone else did.
      Also, I had that USCIS us citizen error thing… and now I have 6 weeks of money “in progress” from November-Jan. And it’s still sitting there saying in progress.
      I emailed them and they took like two months to get back to me and when they did they misunderstood what I was asking… they thought I was referring to my claimant balance. For some reason.. I was perfectly clear about what my problem was and what I was asking.. it’s like either the person was lazy or just dumb…
      SMH…. this is nuts. I can’t believe the things Americans (and the world) are going though. Seems like shit is starting to hit the fan! :(

      Reply
  20. Hi I applied for unemployment back in August and I was having to get the pua because I was self-employed well when I got the letter saying the state to the reason I’m separation if you were self-employed it said you didn’t have to do that well they never called and asked for additional information on that but they did message me Weeks later asking for me to upload my ID social security number and receipts and I did well to make this short they ask for more receipts in October and ask for proof of advertisement and I uploaded my business cards immediately and I’ve been doing my certification every week and job search I’ve called probably 500 times since August and talk to them maybe 15 times and a lot of times they told me it was approved it was just taking long time because of the virus well I had to get the local state representative to submit a request and then had her send another one to the unemployment office which they called me last week and it was the judicator and she asked me some questions and security questions also and said she was passing it to the judication team and I would have a decision soon well she called me Tuesday morning and said I would have a decision emailed to me within a couple hours and I did and it said I was denied and it said for separation reasons should I appeal it or what should I do because I can’t believe they waited this long I’ve been unemployed now almost a year and didn’t talk to me about the separation reason except for the first time I talked to the lady and she said I did not need to worry about it which I read the papers they sent me and also said self-employed does not need to put anything except for it’s related to covid if anything if you could help please do thank you

    Reply
  21. MEUC is almost an insult to those of us who went without assistance (or very little). A lot of us lost our main source of income (self-employment) but still kept our part-time side wage job (like delivering pizzas, or working at the library on the weekends, etc). Since you qualify for UI through that job, you can’t get PUA. But you can’t collect UI on a job you still have, so you don’t get $1 in unemployment compensation a week. You get zero. And are left to try and survive on that 8-12hr a week minimum wage job alone, with no assistance at all. It punished those of us who took on two jobs and were (un?)lucky enough to keep one of them.

    Reply
  22. i have been trying to contact nys dol for 3 days,have called hundreds of times,only to get a recording to call back.my dol web page shows i have called in but funds have not been released for 3 weeks.what’s up with nys dol.

    Reply
  23. I had a retroactive check sent to bank and account was closed where is that and I haven’t been able to apply since 11/18/2020 what do I do

    Reply
  24. Virginia feb 3 2021 attested 5 back weeks for puma and I have not got any money but other people I know have been paid virginia

    Reply
  25. I also got to certify for 5 weeks on friday and it went from pending to not paid in a few hours and now when i call and get thru they answer but dont speak then after around a minute they just hang up..

    Reply
  26. I’ve had problems with PUA almost since the beginning, but this is prob the most frustrating. I’ve been waiting what seems like forever for my Checks, I have 11 now that still have not come through to me, 2 of which say they’ve been sent to me (have a payment # & everything), but I have not received them or the UI card they were supposed to be added on(Which still has not come in mail, its been 2 1/2 weeks now) & the rest are normal & say in progress. I called PUA assistance line & 1st A woman told me it’s because I didn’t send in proof of wages. I told her I don’t have proof of wages because I have not worked that’s why I need PUA. She said if I have not worked in 2020 & don’t have proof of wages then I can’t get unemployment or PUA. I’m confused…What I read was people who AREN’T normally eligible for UI are eligible for PUA. So still no answer as to where the 2 checks are that say they’ve been sent to a card I’ve never received that show payment #’s & everything & NO answers to where the other 9 “in progress checks are or when they will come through. Does anyone know what is going on or advice on what I should do to get some answers? Please help I’m going crazy trying to figure this stuff out, Thank you!!

    Reply
    • I know that some people have waited a really long time to receive their card through the postal service. It will come, I promise you. Also, I myself have been able to call Bank of America EDD debit card service number and they will let you know the exact date that your card was sent out on, if one was sent. The payments are already on the card, most likely. Good luck and just be patient, its coming.

      Reply
    • I heard people doing inside jobs and stealing participants money, by going in and changing the BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION and routing it to others own accounts. I read this on the REDDIT APP. Unemployment are hiring people that have no knowledge about unemployment benefits/PUA & now they’re stealing participants money from under there nose.. Check you bank account information and see when the last update was.. Because that money possible was stolen. Or the address changed to be mailed elsewhere.. Just double check your information hasn’t been been tampered with..

      Reply
      • It shows in the correspondence my retroactive amount from June 2020 to present was deposited two weeks ago into my bank account, but I never got it. My bank is requesting a trace ID number. I have been unsuccessful getting anyone to assist me. It’s so frustrating. I’m considering contacting the fraud department to help me locate my money.

        Reply
  27. I just reactivated my pua claim, like I was told to. Sent back to my homepage, tried filing my weekly claim, but it had said to reactivate my claim..again. I’m assuming they have to review my claim(can someone verify that for me?) And if so… does anyone have an idea as to how long it would be to either be approved, or not?
    I’m in hell hole Pennsylvania.

    Reply
    • I applied for this weeks payment which totalled $445 minus taxes but cannot file for the backdated money which is supposed to be December 27th, 2020. Anyone know what is going on and why online it showed we would get January 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, plus back to December 20th, but we cannot file a clm for the backdate?

      Reply
      • YOU CANNOT FILE FOR THOSE WEEKS UNTIL YOUR CLAIM HAS BEEN APPROVED THEN U WILL BE ABLE TO FILE FOR ALL WEEKS YOU ARE OWED ONCE YOUR CLAIM IS APPROVED HOW EVER LONG THAT TAKES SOME PEOPLE FEW WEEKS OTHER PEOPLE MONTHS AND MONTHS GOOD LUCK

        Reply
    • This is bull, I reactivated my claim, filed & now they are saying there is an “issue” found. none of my info has changed everything is the same as when i was receiving my last payments all of a sudden there is an issue. I say we hold an all inclusive protest on the steps of their office. they won’t be able to ignore us then.

      Reply
      • I’m being told same thing. I’ve been approved since Dec 13th and have not received any payments. Even uploaded a letter from my employer stating how much I made a week and thy the only reason I’m not working there now is because [f covid. How much longer do we have to go in VA with no money?

        Reply
      • I waited a long time to get my benefits. They are overwhelmed and way behind due to the virus thing. As per your remarks about holding a protest on the steps of the office, did you mean like the one at the capitol? We all saw how that turned out. And … that accomplished nothing except pain and suffering. Be patient as hard as it may be.

        Reply
    • So are we going to have to file backdated claims since it would only let us file for one week ie the 2nd 9th and 16th? Seems no one answers anyone’s questions here. Please let us know if you know.

      Reply
    • I’m in Pennsylvania dealing with the exact same thing. I don’t know what to do? Have you had any change or know what to do? Please email me if you can I’m freaking sure out here

      Reply
    • That is where i am from. My benefits say exhausted. Im not sure what i am to do.. do i reopen the claim or what.
      Please help

      Reply
  28. I was filing PUA and it stopped in December. I thought okay, well that’s it. Nothing I can do about it, I didn’t appeal. I am self employed so that’s that. Just keep trying to find clients (hard during Covid) I got an email that said I could claim again so I filled out all my back claims, but am confused because I haven’t received anything – NOTHING. Was I supposed to file the appeal? Will I receive the rest of my weeks? I have seven weeks left. This is so confusing. Anyone have any answers out there? OHIO

    Reply
    • I’m in same boat..I called yesterday and they said that there isn’t nothing we can do and to keep filling every week everyone will be paid by February 26th hopefully sooner they just say that due to not knowing when..

      Reply
    • I have been filing also. When mine ran out..as everyone’s ..dec 26 I was told to file under state again..was denied of course. It’s been my full time job calling inadequate ppl that work for unemployment who don’t he answers and can not transfer calls to a superior. It’s been again 3 months not a penny to my name at all. On Monday I called and was told my account shows paymt to be made to my card Tuesday. .the follow morning. I was told it may not show online but check my acct. It was not thwre. I called Tues starting at 6am. At 1 pm a gentleman told me o do have the and was approved for the extension however it shows such mitten and weeks died. When I asked about it he said it was bcuz I quit my last employment. Funny I never started..I told him I started the job..had no start date so cldnt quit. Ironically at the same time my mom fell I’ll and I was her caregiver 24/7. He instructedme to file an appeal. Once again the 3rd appeal I had to support mother for different reasons. Which will obviously be another 2 months without funds. I don’t understand why in my recent inquiries this wasn’t told o me however a few wks b4 on the phone speaking with a rep got ally verifications done..she assured me she was word for word apparently she entered wrong info and that’s my recent appeal. I feel the ppl workin for everyone this process is destroying all of us. I’m still submitted and wks denied. Ud think they’d be more forceful to dispense this relief pk to hwlpinsyesdthey drag their feet in quicksand..they all have money and living comfortable it’s all disturbing and they contradict tjust aboit it all that is said. But I had to do this along with every single struggling American. Indent have answers other than what’s Goin on with my claim.just wld figure our government wld be ready and able to get this situation goin but I was wrong.it’s all been mafe it hard and unclear. I’m not sure if I have answers or can help anyone but I’ve been thru it qith this process and will try to answer questions if anyone has any that think I may know. Ad if today..March 3..2021id be happy to try an answer. Still waitin for a response from ohio unemployment. I wish everyone the best of luck and when ya have no funds I cannot take care of myself or take care of everyday problems that arise.thank u to all who are dealing with similar things. As hard as it is..let’s keep fingers crossed qq

      Reply
  29. I’m Fouled in WV it’s saying my money is in process it’s been in process for going on three weeks,How long dose it usually take from process to deposit

    Reply
  30. I also was receiving PUA until the 26th. I had a to do for UI so I filed that for whatever reason. It got denied because I’m self employed. My PUA say expired and when I click it sends me to dwd secure witch wont allow me to upload anything. Now what..?

    Reply
    • I am getting the exact same thing on mine. It’s freaking me out! I need that money. We’ve already waited long enough!!

      Reply
  31. Someone please help guide me so I can stop stressing, pleaseeeee. I filed in April got 39 weeks total. Two weeks ago on December 28th I was able to claim my prior weeks. Buttttt two weeks later (today) it’s time for me to file and nothing is there for me to claim. Pua expires on the 26th so I understand that. What I don’t understand is how are half of the people still able to continue certifying for benefits now up until the second week of January? Shouldn’t everyone’s claim be sitting in water while we all wait for the claims to get updated with extended weeks? Half the people on here are filing this week, the other half including me can’t file. Please anyone with knowledge guide me because I am so stressed and jealous of all of you still getting paid lol. I can’t find a article explaining this and idk what to do because I am broke now.

    Reply
    • I agree they are just worried about fraud instead of paying us. I to have claimed six weeks and have went without pay and continue to wait . It is the most hardest thing especially when having four children that do not deserve any of it. Bills being disconnected, eviction letters like I can go on n on. Sad that people try and steal from the government they will catch you sooner or later ugh so frustrated

      Reply
    • If YOU ARE ABLE TO FILE FOR THE WEEK THEN YOUR CLAIM IS APPROVED AND WILL BE PAID WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ALL PROGRAMMED AND READY TO GO IF YOUR NOT ABLE TO FILE WEEKLY CLAIM THEN YOUR CLAIM IS HELD UP FOR ONE OF MANY REASONS JUST KEEP CHECKING PORTAL AND DO WHATEVER THEY ASK YOU TO DO AND BY THE DATE THEY REQUEST IT BY OR YOUR CLAIM WILL MOST CERTAINLY BE DENIED!!! Good luck

      Reply
  32. I received pua and like everyone else my payments stopped on dec 26. I have now filed my weekly clam and it allowed me to do several weeks but then on the 4th week it said terminated or canceled. Why would it say this and could it be a glitch or what should I do to continue to receive pua as I am still not working due to Covid.

    Reply
    • I had the same problem and thought I should file a new claim. Now I have no clue what I did or what is going on. When I do the weekly claim for my payment is says denied or something. Everything is just a mess

      Reply
  33. I as a self employed person in PA held off till Mid Aug to begin filing for weekly PAU. I uploaded everything asked of myself. Called every two weeks (after 100’s of redials and over 2 hours on hold each time to get to speak with a rep) Was told an Examiner was needing to approve it, next was told the first 3 months more info was needed. I kept uploading the new documents they needed each time that no other rep had said was needed previously. First week December I was told my claim should be good and is just waiting for an examiner to review and approve it still. I had as of 12/31 17 weeks showing in progress on my claim summery. I logged in early this week to check up. No claim summery found. No open claim found. I called 213 times to get through, waited on hold 1 hour and 54 mins to speak with a rep. She said they have no info. That old unpaid claims may be paid when the new extension claims are open for application?????? So a bill that was to extend the PUA now closed the claims and she could not say when of if the back PUA payments i been waiting on while i live on credit cards and prayers will be paid now. Called my Congressman, Senator, and Gov offices. No one has any official word. How can some states be paying out the on the new bill PUA and others (yeah you PA) have no idea and have closed the claims in progress for last year????? Its total BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  34. Well my pay says I’ve been disqualified because I didn’t send my needed info on timely manner. I apeeled the determination in Nov. Still no response to my appeal. Now my appeal was withdrawn, system then issued an appeal for timeliness. But I’m still being disqualified for each week I’ve certified for all the way back to March. How do I get the needed info for what I need to do for my PUA in nevada.?

    Reply
  35. hi. my status says active in my PUA page, will i be able to file my weekly claim again or is it over? in ohio. it will not let me file weekly claim.

    Reply
  36. Been waiting for 12 weeks and haven’t received a dime !! What is going on , do they have a time line for pay. I call every day and keep getting incompetent workers. They don’t know what’s going on and can’t answer any questions. What are we supposed to do? this is wrong to make us suffer. it doesn’t take long to click a few buttons.

    Reply
    • Same.switched to ohio relia card Dec 1 and every week since unemployment says and shows it was paid..to the card but relia card employees say they havent received it. I’ve been back and forth for over a month trying to find my funds and Noone knows. Keep referring me to the other and this shad become my full time job. It’s horrible. I am being told the same things every single day. Latest was told to wait longer. Lol. Seriously? Wld they wait this long and go with absolutely no money? Because I have and now I’m waiting on stimulus just to be able to eat. This is horrible times 100. Bills aren’t paid..I’m walking the thin line and am gonna be pushed off soon because of the incompetent ppl in the got workplace.

      Reply
  37. Hi I have a question do I have to reapply for my benefits stopped December 26th or are they going to just keep going over being extended I’m not sure what to do

    Reply
    • No if you were eligible for pua then you just keep filling. I am reading these terrible things from all different states and that is terrible!! I’m in mass and haven’t had any issues at all. You should’ve continued to file weekly online it may say no benefit of something to that affect if the additional weeks aren’t set up but it doesn’t matter, still file!! Once your state gets set up for additional weeks then . You’ll get retro. I have already gotten 2 weeks retro and wed I’ll get my third. EVERYTHING IS DONE BY YOUR STATES UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE! My poor father didn’t know he could file as a independent contractor so I applied for him in December back to April and they told him they couldn’t verify identity even though I sent them literally 15 documents!! So I appealed and 7 weeks later still no word. He still files every week though so he can get everything retro. He’s up to like 24000$!!! This is terrible

      Reply
      • Hello, I was wondering if you may have had a similar problem that I did. It says they have sent my direct deposit but its been almost a week and it hasn’t come yet. Has this happened to you?

        Reply
      • QUESTION WHAT DOCUMENTS WAS YOUR FATHER USING TO VERIFY HIS IDENTITY?? LET ME KNOW I KNOW ALSO TO APPEAL THE DECISION BECAUSE HE WILL MOST DEFINITELY GET IT ALL AT ONCE !!! SO IF HE WAS SELF EMPLOYED ITS BECAUSE OF COVID HE IS NOT WORKING SO HE IS ELIGIBLE FOR PUA BENEFITS!!!!

        Reply
  38. Well I filed august the 2 and received my pua first pay and they told me in 2 to 3 days I would get my lump sum and I haven’t gotten anything and I had called my senator and they sent them and email with all my information and know ones has gotten back to me yet and we are getting ready to enter into a new year this crazy and I don’t know if I should keep filing my pua if I still have money in my claim or not can someone help me

    Reply
    • U HAD 39 WEEKS PUA LIKE ALL THE REST OF THE COUNTRY ON PUA 11 MORE WEEKs on 1-2-2021 and with Biden stimulus bill 25-26 more weeks wil be paid to you if your on PUA AND DID ALL VERIFICATION DWD ASKED FOR AND IN TIMELY MANNER GOOD LUCK HANG IN THERE

      Reply
  39. I was approved months ago!! I than talked to so many people that said I would get my money the next day and I’m still waiting now my pua says processing waiting on a adjudicator and has been for 5 months! How long will this take! And will it be done in time to do taxes ?!!

    Reply
    • I haave been waiting a little over 5mths myself since my account has been froze. Due to this whole fraud thing. I have sent several emails. Called I dont know how many times. And I have not heard a thing back. No nothing. And with no pay… How long is it going to take? Any ideas??

      Reply
      • Guys email your state representative office you’ll get a call and you tell them what’s going on I had been waiting to hear something since June and couldn’t get anyone with pua to so much as call me back. I messed up on my first 13 weeks claim with the question are you able and available to work they allowed me to go in the system and change it from no to yes someone should have called me instantly because I should have had my case flag for review and I did not I emailed the Arkansas state representatives they called me within 3 days because it was the holidays the day they called me pua called me instantly within 3 hours show me my money would be in my account in 2 to 3 days and it was another very next day.

        Reply
  40. Hello. My question is about the denial of PUA since it is ending in Dec 2020 UNLESS a new deal is reached, which it has been. The letter I received said “Ineligible Indefinitely’ and says I can appeal within 21 days. Did everyone get a similar letter? Since the new deal has been passed will I still have to make this appeal?, or do i need to refile? or will my benefits restart without me doing anything as of now and I just wait until when they get caught up on the new package deal? I would have to refile. Thank you for any help and sugestions.

    Reply
    • Sandra,
      If you were found “ Ineligible “ for PUA benefits, you can only appeal. If you have been receiving unemployment benefits in 2020, that tells me you may have just answered a question incorrectly. Go back and re read the requirements ( not being rude). You may have been denied because you may still qualify for regular state benefits.

      Reply
      • You can also claim outside of the 21 day period ! My first denial was in June,I filed an appeal in October finally got my benefit Nov/Dec time

        Reply
      • I received the same letter, but it also referred to the fact that PUA was stopped on Dec 13 because Ohio’s unemployment rate has reduced since October. That’s great for the people who have jobs, but sure doesn’t help those of us who haven’t gotten one yet! So the same question stands: If Ohio ended your PUA on Dec 13 before your benefit amount ran out, will you be eligible for the 2021 PUA? Will we have to reapply?

        Reply
    • Call them ! I had a ineligible indefinitely notice in June when I first claimed after continue d wrong information from the helpline .after loads of calls and emails I did an appeal with them in October on the phone and never heard anything about my hearing .
      I certified each week and sent as many emails as I felt up to !
      Eventually I summoned up the mental strength to call unemployment in late November about my hearing !
      I was very lucky the woman who answered my call was well,she really knew her job .
      She told me to always phone in ! They are swamped dealing with regular unemployment appeals as well as covid appeals.
      She did my ruling with me on the phone ,in five minutes.
      I got my benefit two days later,as well as all the extra amounts of $600 and $300 ,I thank God she answered my call.

      Reply
      • I Were blessed. I switched from direct deposit to ohio state debit card (relia card) and for every week in December I’ve received nothing. None of my payments have been sent to me tho unemployment tells me as well as I can see the weeks have been paid and they say it has been sent to my card. And to call relia card. I did. Relia card says they havent received any deposits.and keep referring me back to unemployment. I’ve made this..well it has become my full time job. Every single day for 4 weeks now 5 to 8 hours per day on the phone trying to find my funds. I have no correspondence pending and no issues. Yet Noone can tell me where my funds are. My card has had a zero balance since received and activated. I’ve done everything I can and the jobs of one’s who shld be helping me. Absolutely no money this entire month because of this and no straight answers. I’ve contacted the BBC and filed complaints. Next step..an attorney I guess. I just want and need my funds. If I can’t receive weekky..what will happen with the additionAL 300 comming..I won’t get that wither because someone somewhere did something wrong and won’t fix this issue. Anyone else having this problem? I’d love to know how it was taken care of or any info that may help my situation. Thanks!!!!!!!

        Reply
    • We all received that letter. I asked today and you don’t need to do anything. just file your weeks and you should get your back weeks when they start up again in February. We are part of the PUA 11 week extension. I finally got answers today.

      Reply
    • You do not have to reapply. I called and asked because I also received the letter. Your benefits will continue. Keep filling your weeks. We do not get the extra $300 though because we did not exhaust our benefits. They are working on that patch and may or may not fix it. Don’t count on that extra money though-it’s currently not looking good for us. We will receive benefits beginning the week of the 27th for 11 weeks. We will not receive the two weeks between when our benefits stopped and the 27th. Payments should start around February 8th.

      Reply
  41. I finally was able to filed my PUA claim in June 2020. However, my last day or work is Feb 2020.
    I’ve requested verbally several times for back date pay from my last pay of work in Feb 2020. I don’t know what the true status on why I haven’t received or heard from NJ UnEmployment.
    The only thing a call center rep says is “I Just Have To Wait, they cannot give any additional information” (Each Person I call says something different)… not sure if i’m even speaking to to right person or dept.

    If anyone has any additional information that will help me is Greatly Appreciated….
    Very Stresssful…

    Reply
    • My state Representative’s office got through to the GA DOL office to have them call me about backdating my PUA for full 39 weeks if pay, i just filled out the paperwork (which is identical to online payment request) for each week to be backdated. You may have to do the same, but do it quickly!!

      Reply
      • how did you send in your back payment requests? I read that I needed to take it to the career center but they are closed and I don’t know what to do since I was finally able to get a response after applying several times and now they are about to end the payments.

        Reply
        • I had to fill out by hand backdated weekly request forms (that are identical to the request for weekly payments online) for every week I was missing, in addition to filling out the request for backdated payments request form. I got the forms from the GA DOL contact that emailed them to me after I got my State Representative, Houston Gaines, office involved!! GA DOL only reached out to me after the State Representative office contacted them!

        • The DOL Representative sent me the 2 forms I needed 1. DOL-5168(10/20) and 2. DOL-5158(10/20)
          The first is a letter to request backdating payments and the second is the 2 page form you need to fill out for each backdated week you are requesting payment for (identical to the online form). It has to be submitted to he DOL claims dept but I don’t know how to do that as the DOL Representative that contacted me did that part for me! Call your state Representative ASAP!

    • Hi. I filed the end of May but my last date of employment was March 13th, 2020. I’ve been reading what some others have done to get NJDOL to backdate their claim. Of course all this crap with NJ’s unemployment is so damn frustrating. Telling people they just have to wait. Well, you can’t do that. I swear they put your claim in their virtual in-box where it sits in an invisible line and gets forgotten. After months of this nightmare, (Oh and they actually backdated my claim but neglected to put the money in the WBR section and in the balance left, which was plenty). Talk about incompetent. They made it worse. I went to my congressman. I sent him an email back in October and by November (can’t remember exact dates but it hasn’t been that long) all those weeks of unemployment benefits were deposited into my checking account and a couple days later ( or close to it), the retroactive $600 a week was there. One lump sum for each. It was taken care of without me having to certify for any back dated weeks. Hell, they knew what I was owed. Please try to find help outside of DOL. I wish you the best of luck Kalippo. Trina

      Reply
    • Make sure you call the pua helpline and also unemployment as UNEMPLOYMENT seem to know more due to pua being a new set up .
      Make sure you say the REASON YOU DIDNT FILE IN A TIMELY MANNER WAS DUE TO THE FACT YOU WERE INCAPACITATED WITH COVID. Good luck and DONT GIVE UP

      Reply
      • It’s been 50 weeks already since I filed my pua and still have not seen a dime I call everyday and the same stories it’s in prossess .how long does it take for these people take to push a few buttons

        Reply
        • Wow. That’s nuts! 50 weeks? What do they say when you call? You should contact your local representative or congressman.

  42. Still trying to get WV to update my income and send me the correct benefit instead of the minimum. Anyone else having this problem or know how to get it corrected? I’ve spent I very 20 hours on hold with them

    Reply
  43. I got denied my PUA claim because i accidentally put my last date of my taxes of 2019 for my last day of work however self employed my last day was in march 2020 due to.covid and my kids not in school what can i do

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  44. I’m not understanding how that I’m not eligible for the PUA benefits? I understand that I’m not eligible for the regular unemployment benefits because I was fired from my last job last year because of my tardiness at my last job. But then was told and I had received a letter saying that I had qualified for the PUA and for the amount of $355.00 per week and to start calling to certify for my benefits on October 12,2020 and I had done that. I have been calling unemployment and sending messages to them and never had gotten any answers from them. So I have been calling them as well I have been told many different answers and today on December 16, 2020 I had called and talked to a agent about my claim and as well as yesterday also, and was told that now I’m now qualified for any benefits at all because I had not worked since February or March of last year and that my 18 months was up and that I had not made anymore money since then called the “rework” basically I had to worked and then not worked and to have made around $5,600 in between from then till now. Well I don’t get it at all and I feel like I’m being screwed over cuz I had not worked in a year and can’t get any money and many other people that haven’t had a job since whenever or have never had a job are getting unemployment benefits. So why can’t I get anything from a federally funded program for myself????

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    • Those people are running a scam. I’ve been waiting for mine too. But they dont pay on absentees or late as reason being fired. It is based on quarterly income. Nothing in 18 months for income they arent obligated to give anything…sorry

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    • One of the requirement of PUA is that the reason for unemployment must be DIRECTLY resulted from COVID. Since the Pandemic Assistance Period started on 2/2/2020 and your last day of work was last year (haven’t worked for a year), you most likely won’t qualify for PUA.

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    • I’m having the same problem being told multiple different reasons and how to fix it. Been waiting for my back pay since March. I don’t know what to do can’t get any answers from anywhere. So confused :(

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    • Because of so many people applying but maybe the best way for you to get approved or have them look at your application call your local state Representative office & let them know what’s going on.They should be able to email Pua for you.

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    • Six weeks is nothing ! I waited from June to December . Don’t give up ,call instead of emailing if you can take notes of calls dates n times .and who u spoke with .
      Remember pua is new and call centre advisers are swamped ! As well as trying to get a handle on pua information

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  45. Does anyone have any information or what to expect or how to check the status of a back dated PUA emailed request (PA) that could only be sent via an email as per PA PUA instructions. The phone number is seemingly always busy so there does not seem to be another way to find that info. Also do we know if the extra Federal $600 will automatically be processed with the backdated requests?
    Thank you so much Andy for your hard work sharing this much needed information! It’s truly appreciated!

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    • You will get all the backdated if u r approved. That’s the 600 extra and also the 300 extra for 6 weeks on top of what your weekly amount is. Hope this helps

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      • I called UE and spoke to someone yesterday 1/7/2021 and they said after December 31st 2020 there will be no more PUA back payments coming out.

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      • Ok I’m hoping someone can help me. I live and worked in Kentucky. I applied the last week in March of 2020 for PUA after being denied regular Unemployment. I was new to the whole unemployment so I didn’t think I had to certify my benefits every 2 wks until I was approved. So I kept checking the portal and sent in verification of who I was and submitted my bank account info. Well I never heard anything but during that time I was calling the ky unemployment hotline every other day. It finally would call me back after hours with an automated message stating my call is very important and they have my number and someone who get back with me. Then 11 months later in February 2021,I received a letter stating was approved for PUA and the amount $173.00 so I then started going online every 2 wks and certify my benefits. Everything was going great then my phone was stolen and I could no longer access my original email account that they were now sending the 2 step process to verify it was me. So I started emailing as well as calling the ky unemployment office. Then in the meantime of me doing that I receive a letter stating I was terminated or disqualified from PUA benefits for missing an in person meeting. Well if they could real my email from a new email address I couldn’t access the portal to see my messages. So I finally get an in person meeting,5 months later because we all know the appointments go so fast online. So when I get there I explained everything telling you. So she gave me a new 8digit pin and said wait for her call because the were I guess checking my claim. Which I told her word for word what I had put on my original claim and that nothing had changed. Besides unable to access original email which she fixed.So I asked her about how do I go about backdating my claim because I only received like 6 1/2weeks out of the 14 months that I’m owed. I also forgotten to mention that between February – May I also received a letter stating I was approved for the extension and my total $ was higher.
        This is also 14 months my car getting repoed and bills stacking up and my utilities getting disconnected.

        E

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    • Keep signing in on the pua site and ck ur correspondence and determination. They are bad about assuming you know what to do.

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    • I am actually in the same boat. I cannot read the response to the emails I sent them. It says to do all these things that don’t make sense

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      • I have not received any responses to my initial email request. How long dud your response take and where did you receive them message? On your dashboard Or personal email.

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        • Hi JP,
          So when you log onto the portal you MUST do so on a laptop or desk top computer. It’s not visible if you log in on a phone. You will see a tab marked “ Correspondance” when it opens it will say “ No Records Available” in the same page you will see where it asks you what dates you are looking for. Just click the word ALL”. Once you do that the entire screen will populate with Every document you’ve ever had. I know it’s not really user friendly but all your info will be there.

  46. Hi, can anyone help? My weekly claim says $0 after I finished applying for it. It says it has been filed, but I don’t understand why I’m not receiving anything this week? Last week (my first week) was fine. This is only my second week using PUA. My reported earnings are much lower than what I made in the previous week. Please help!?

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