Federal Unemployment Benefits and Extensions Ended on September 4th, 2021
The unemployment programs created by the CARES Act expired in Pennsylvania on September 4th, 2021. Claimants on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) had the week ending Saturday, September 4th, 2021 as their last paid weeks on the programs. Furthermore, no claimants will receive Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), the extra $300 a week payments, after the week ending on Saturday, September 4th, 2021.
What does this mean?
If you are on either PUA or PEUC, the last week you will be able to file and get paid is the week ending September 4th, 2021. It also means that claimants will not receive the extra $300 a week on any unemployment compensation claim filed after the week ending September 4th, 2021. However, this cutoff does NOT affect your right to receive or ability to claim any prior week during the pandemic. If you are waiting for the Department to determine your eligibility for earlier weeks, this cutoff will not affect those weeks.
What if I am receiving regular Unemployment Compensation and not PUA or PEUC?
If you are currently receiving regular unemployment compensation, meaning you are not receiving PUA or PEUC, your benefits will not end until they have “exhausted,” meaning you have received all of the money in your account for your initial 26 weeks. However, you will no longer receive the extra $300 from FPUC on any weeks you file for benefits after September 4th, 2021.
What if I still have remaining weeks to file for on my PUA claim?
The PUA program allowed claimants to claim up to 79 weeks of benefit payments during the program period. No matter how many week you have remaining to claim on PUA, you will not be able to file and get payments for any more weeks after September, 4th 2021.
What if I still have money in my account for my PEUC claim?
Unfortunately, it does not matter if you still see funds left in your account after September 4th, 2021. While those funds can get paid out for earlier weeks, if you have not yet been paid, they cannot be used to pay any weeks after September 4th, 2021.
Could I be eligible for a new UC claim?
Most claimants whose benefits will end after September 4th, will not be eligible for a new UC claim. However, two groups of claimants may have continuing eligibility:
- PEUC Claimants who have previously qualified for a new UC claim in 2021, but who had been allowed to stay on PEUC because it had a higher rate. These claimants should be able to now switch back to the new UC claim once the extension ends.
- App-based drivers who were collecting PUA but who may now qualify for regular UC. This will only apply to drivers who have worked between April 2020 and March 2021. You can find more information about this here.
Are unemployment benefits currently your main source of income?
We’ve made a list of income support resources: