The CARES Act allows individuals who are unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic to receive temporary UI benefits called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Eligible individuals include workers who would not otherwise qualify for UI benefits under their applicable state (or federal) law for any reason, such as because they:

• Are self-employed;
• Are seeking part-time work; or
• Do not have sufficient work history.

An individual may receive PUA benefits for up to 39 weeks if he or she is otherwise able to work and available for work (as defined under state law), but is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of at least one of a variety of specified reasons related to COVID-19. The table on page 2 of the attached compliance bulletin provides an outline of these specified reasons. The DOL may establish additional qualifying reasons.

An individual is not eligible for PUA benefits if he or she is:

• Able to telework; or
• Receiving paid leave benefits of any kind.

This Compliance Bulletin provides a summary of the CARES Act’s expanded UI benefit provisions and includes information from related guidance issued by the DOL on April 2, 2020, and on April 4, 2020. Additional guidance is expected in the near future.

Contact your NEEBCo representative with questions.

Unemployment Benefits for Coronavirus under the CARES Act