What If I Have A Claim Balance or Weeks Remaining After September When 2021 Unemployment Benefit Extensions For PUA, PEUC and $300 Weekly Boost End

With federal unemployment benefits expiring after the week ending September 4th in states that didn’t end pandemic benefits early, many are asking what will happen to their active claim balance if they have weeks left after the expiry date.

The answer unfortunately is that active balances under the PUA and PEUC programs will expire or go unused without any grace period unless another extension to the enhanced unemployment benefit program is funded at a federal or state level. At this stage the Biden administration is not extending benefits at a federal level and leaving this decision to state leaders.

This is despite many claimants, who started or continued claims this year under one or more of the extended federal unemployment programs, having remaining weeks come September 6th (official legislated end date). Contacting your state unemployment agency for remaining balances won’t be of much help either as the sudden end of benefit payments is per federal law as stated in DOL guidelines.

Note that PEUC claimants may also be able to move to a state’s extended benefits program, if available. Further, per guidance from the Biden administration, states can use APRA COVID relief funds to expand coverage of traditional state unemployment programs.

State Unemployment Extended Benefits Programs

Regardless of when claims started and how many weeks of PEUC claimed (up to the 75 week maximum), ALL enhanced benefit programs are currently set to expire September 4, 2021. However in many states like New Jersey, eligible claimants that have not collected all their state extended benefits (EB) will transition to the state’s EB program once PEUC expires.

Unfortunately, unless states expand benefit programs coverage, PUA claimants will not qualify for state extended unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Retroactive Payments

One thing that will remain in place even without a post-September extension is back pay for weeks claimants were eligible and are able to successfully certify. There are however constraints around how far back you can file for retroactive benefits based on which unemployment extension period you are claiming weeks under.

Further the process in states varies and if you are going back several periods you will likely need to seek manual intervention from a state UI agency representative to process your claim given how antiquated some of the processing systems are.

When Could an Extension Be Confirmed?

The Biden Administration has now confirmed that they won’t push at a federal level or via executive order to extend enhanced unemployment programs (PUA and PEUC) past the September 6th expiration date.

They are instead encouraging states with high unemployment or hit hard by COVID-19 Delta to use existing ARPA stimulus funding to extend and expand traditional state unemployment benefits for as long as needed. You can see more on this in this video.

States will have to provide guidance on expanded benefits or move to state extended benefit programs prior to early September to ensure a continuation of benefits. So stay tuned as updates come out and I will update on state-by-state basis.

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46 thoughts on “What If I Have A Claim Balance or Weeks Remaining After September When 2021 Unemployment Benefit Extensions For PUA, PEUC and $300 Weekly Boost End”

  1. I see atl is in the house, Im in ga too I had a balance over $12,000 , how is it fair for some people that got all their money, and some people that can’t get the rest of their money, for most people the little they got , they was playing catch up on rent , bills ect. The sad part is I wait about 7 months and they didn’t give me the whole lump sum, it was in portion smh

    Reply
  2. Here’s my situation. My benefit year runs from mar 2021-mar 2022. I’m in Wisconsin and I work a seasonal job. I went back to work may 2021 until the end of October 2021. So when I applied for unemployment it said everything was exhausted until my current benefit year is up. Even though I still had $9k+ left. The specialist said when those extra funds ended in Sept that no further claims could be made until current benefit year expires. To me and 1000’s of others that work seasonal jobs in Wisconsin that’s complete BS. She said that Biden is responsible for that and as a state we can’t do anything to change that because it’s a Federal thing. Anybody have any answers to this because there’s gonna be a sh**storm here as others find out about this? Thanks!

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  3. I received Pua I have $2000 left over .I had 12 weeks left over .I had to change my password just to get into my account.I can’t tell you the nightmarish experience I went through to prove my identity.I was told that I would receive my remaining weeks after it went through the adjudication process.I had to submit my tax forms first I was told my 2019’s were acceptable .Only to find out weeks later I should have turned in my 2020.Once again I was told I would receive my remaining weeks I was finally approved on Oct 12 only to discover that it was for one week only and not the other 11 weeks.I don’t understand why I would not receive the remaining weeks considering it was already after Sept 4th. I also want to know if can file for regular UI since I still have a balance?Also my account is still active for pua.

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    • Yeah I sent in faxes with information on them which cost $50-$75 stating that I submitted my taxes and had weeks that were not paid in August and have not received anything since the second week of
      august causing my girlfriend and soulmate in a blue state stop talking to me because she could not believe what i was telling her. she hates me now..

      Reply
  4. Andy,this is the issue.When the pandemic started and the government was shut down on march 14th 2020,a lot of people lost their jobs because their companies were shut down as well.At that time,libraries,schools and daycare centers were closed.Now,a lot of people weren’t able to file a claim because they had no access to the internet because they depend on public libraries for their internet services.Most people weren’t able to get internet access until after the shut down was lifted but access was very limited.You had to make an appointment and if granted you were allowed just one hour.At the end of an hour,if you’re not able to file a claim then you have to make another appointment that could take several days to weeks.Those who tried to file a claim by phone had little or no success.So many people after several attempts gave up and waited for several days,weeks and months to see if there was an improvement with the unemployment system to allow them to file a claim.Some were able to file a claim and others weren’t.Some that lose their jobs because of the pandemic were able to file a claim at the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021 after the unemployment departments had made some improvements to system.This is the issue at hand.It wasn’t the fault of these layoff workers that the unemployment systems couldn’t accomodate their claims because their states systems were antiquated.But they were eligible at the start of the pandemic.Do you think they stand a chance to get any back pay on appeal now that the federal program has ended and their monitary balance some with over thousands of dollars, has now been withdrawn by the federal government?

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      • Hello James,
        Read your reply to Buddy’s question, “Does California offer an extension for PUA benefits at the state level for those with a balance leftover?”
        I also am interested if possible.

        Sincerely,

        Reply
        • No extensions after Sep 6th. The only thing being paid are retroactive payments for weeks before Sep 6th, when the PUA program was still active.

      • South Carolina I’ve emailed I’ve called so many times I’ve walked over 26miles only to got no help once again. I’ve been homeless every since I have a balance of 7k and I cant get no answers I don’t no what to do

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  5. I jus checked my claim status and it shows that i used my balance but i am now on extended unemployment benefits with a balance of over $3k. Does this mean i will recieve it all even after Sept 6?

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  6. 7 months of claims and still haven’t got a penny. I finally have spoke to a live person weekly for the past month. Do this and u will get u money… do that… been told I’m owed 15 weeks. Why would two different agents tell me to appeal when I don’t even know why I’m appealing… and stop making claims. I received a determination and I’m happy with that. I just want my fk money.

    Reply
    • Unfortunately no. All claim balances from the week of September 6th will expire and go unpaid unless there is a retroactive extension to these programs (unlikely).

      Reply
    • Same Question I Have, I Still Have Almost 4 Weeks Of Pay That I Was Told I Would Still Be Able To Claim After September 6th, Yet When I Went To Claim The Following Week I Was Told I Had To Speak To A Representative Who Then Told Me The Took All Funds BACK When The PUA Ended I Am Currently Living In A Hotel & I Have No Idea How I Am Going To Pay My Rent Next Month

      Reply
    • Even if I was granted my unemployment payments from Inglewood Court’s of appeals..,why can’i receive the rest of the weeKs I was rewarded??

      Reply
  7. I’m in Florida and many were locked out of their accounts and wasn’t able to make deadlines for weeks of payments. I’ve contacted help center but still no word. Will I receive back pay?

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  8. My last week for unemployment was 8/29/2021 – 9/04/2021. When trying on my day, it was refused. All telephone numbers say to call back another day due to volume. Am I eligible for this last week?

    Reply
    • SAME HERE!!!!
      The system shows “Connect” is still loading….FOR DAYS NOW. There’s no one you can call or even email! Completely locked out and doesn’t accept my original password. Tried changing password. That doesn’t help either.

      Reply
  9. what happen if u have 2 type of claim on your status like on the claim tracker
    Claim Type: Unemployment Insurance (UI
    Extension Type: Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) Tier 2 Augmentation
    what should i do?

    Reply
  10. Hello Andy,
    After the week ending 9/4/21, should people still file weekly cert? Will unemployment allow or want us to file? Some have the option to file and some don’t. What does that mean.

    Reply
  11. Andy I have a 1100 balance on my account how can it be claimed Can I apply for a new application that is money that I am entitled to regardless

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  12. So my benefits year end date is 10/18/21 I also still have a balance of 11,ooo+ dollars… what will happen to that moneynand my claim come 10/18/21

    Reply
    • Sadly yes, after 9/6. But you could be eligible for state unemployment which gives you another 26 weeks of UI payments.

      Reply
      • How do you do this? It gives you no option!! I’m so tired of being on unemployment and I just want a job. I have 6,000 left from PUA.

        Reply
  13. I qualified for PUA in NC and currently have a balance left over. Should I apply for a new UI claim to use this money or am I ineligible now that PUA expired? Trying to figure out if it’s pointless to start a new claim. Thank you!

    Reply
    • No new claims will be paid after Sept 6th. But if you qualified for PUA in prior weeks (or since March 11th when the latest extension was approved) you should apply as you can be paid for retroactive benefit weeks.

      Reply
  14. What is pua-puec
    This is the first im actually getting any info … feel like I’ve been screwed over when I’ve been working my ass off and keeping the integrity strong… would of been nice to have a little guidance… so thank you I really appreciate it … any other info on anything else would be helpful…
    As of now I’m homeless because the pandemic.

    Reply
    • Joe,
      I am sorry to hear about your situation. I had to appeal my unemployment twice and I was finally approved. I have no idea when I will get paid. Then, I read I won’t get federal money. Any ideas?

      Hollie from Michigan

      Reply
      • You should hopefully start seeing retroactive payments for past weeks (that were successfully adjudicated) over the next 4 to 6 weeks.

        Reply
    • No..any weeks or balances after 9/6 won’t be paid. If states mistakenly pay you, you may be required to pay funds back.

      Reply
  15. Will Indiana PUA unemployment get benefits Monday September 6,2021 are we going to be able to file 1 last voucher this week September 5,2021

    Reply
  16. Hey Andy .. I literally just commented to one of your articles ..I’m not sure if I was on the right article when I was responding..so this is the article I was referring too..

    Reply

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