Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program Updates [Sunday April 26th]

.:: CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR STATES PUA FILING STATUS ::.

• [NEW JERSEY]:   “The Labor Department said on Sunday it has received all the federal guidance it had been waiting for. Now, a spokesman said, it is “working to bring all these new programs online to be available to PUA applications as soon as possible.” But the department could not say when the claims would start to be processed. That means the Labor Department’s computer systems are being programmed to process these claims. Workers should apply for regular benefits first. Their applications will be denied, but it’s the first step to applying for the expanded benefits…” [FULL ARTICLE]
• [ILLINOIS]:   “On Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker said 1099 or gig workers whose businesses have been shuttered by the stay at home order can apply for unemployment benefits starting now. If they’re ruled ineligible because they’re a contract worker, their applications will be automatically moved to the new system so they can be processed in early to mid-May. When the new system is up and running by May 11, Employment Services will begin processing these claims. Pritzker predicted such workers would start receiving funds in mid-May…” [FULL ARTICLE]
• [NEW YORK]:   “Most of the outstanding claims are those that fall under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance provision of the CARES Act, which was signed into law March 27 by President Trump, DeRosa said. Cuomo blamed those problems on a two-step federal application process that DeRosa called a “complete disaster” requiring applicants to apply first for conventional jobless benefits, be rejected, and then apply again under the new pandemic program. The state has since rolled out a simplified process that allows workers to apply only once, and made faster progress, she said. But there are plenty of problems among those with both PUA claims (which cover gig workers and independent contractors) and traditional unemployment filers alike…” [FULL ARTICLE]
• [MONTANA]:   ” “Our new web portal is now live and ready to process claims for self-employed Montanans. Our state boasts a high rate of entrepreneurialism, which means these benefits will help a wide swath of Montanans,” Nordlund said. “We’re focused on getting unemployment assistance in the hands of those that need it as quickly as possible and this new technology is a big step in helping Montanans during this time of uncertainty.” Those who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others affected by the coronavirus are now able to file…” [FULL ARTICLE]
• [SOUTH CAROLINA]:   “Gig workers, self-employed workers, contractors and other South Carolinians will soon begin receiving emergency unemployment benefits, the Department of Employment and Workforce announced Friday. DEW will begin accepting applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program as of April 25, nearly a month after the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27. The PUA program extends unemployment benefits to people who normally wouldn’t qualify for state unemployment benefits, such as gig workers and 1099 employees…” [FULL ARTICLE]