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You are eligible for PEUC if:
- You are unemployed for weeks within the time frame of March 29, 2020 through September 4, 2021.
- You exhausted your regular state or federal benefits after July 6, 2019;
- You are not currently eligible for state or federal unemployment benefits; and
- You are able and available to work. Please note, however, that Governor Work has temporarily suspended the work registration and work search requirements pursuant to the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration.
Please note: Generally, you must exhaust all PEUC benefits before accepting EB or PUA benefits.
However, the new federal guidance allows an individual who previously exhausted PEUC and then started receiving EB to continue receiving EB payments even though the PEUC program was extended to September 4, 2021. Learn more about Extended Benefits here.
Similarly, an individual who previously exhausted PEUC and then started receiving PUA may continue receiving PUA payments for a maximum of four weeks. The Department will work toward placing all such individuals back on PEUC claims during those four weeks.
It is fraudulent to accept payment on two different programs for the same claim week.
You have exhausted your benefits when:
You are not eligible for regular UC benefits because you have received the maximum number of weeks of these benefits available to you based on your employment during your base period; OR
Your benefit year ended on or after July 6, 2019.
If you currently have an open UC claim, there is nothing for you to do other than continue filing your bi-weekly claim. You will automatically receive up to 53 weeks of PEUC benefits.
If your benefit year has expired and you wish to apply for PEUC, apply for PEUC online here. Your benefit year expires one year (52 weeks) after your regular unemployment application for benefits date.
For example, if you applied for benefits on February 1, 2019, and have not worked since, your benefit year expired on February 1, 2020. You may be eligible for PEUC benefits and must submit an application to possibly receive these benefits. They will not automatically be set up for you because your benefit year has ended.
Your PEUC weekly benefit amount is the same as your regular UC weekly benefit rate.
Your weekly benefit rate is based on your reported earnings during the base year (the first four of the last five completed quarters). You must also have at least 18 credit weeks (weeks during which you earned $116 or more) in your base year to be eligible for UC.
Click here to find out how to calculate your weekly benefit rate.
Yes. All individuals collecting any type of UC, including PEUC, will receive $300 per week from the Federal
Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, in addition to their weekly benefits as calculated. FPUC payments began the week ending January 2, 2021 and will end September 4, 2021. These payments will be backdated for eligible individuals.
The FPUC program will end September 4, 2021 and no FPUC will be payable with respect to weeks of PEUC for any weeks after September 4, 2021.
In general, individuals collecting regular UC are eligible for 26 weeks of benefits. If you are still unemployed after 26 weeks, you may be eligible for up to 53 additional weeks of benefits through PEUC.
No. However, depending on when you last reported income, you may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits to those individuals who do not have enough wages in their base year to file a regular UC claim. Your unemployment must also be a direct result of a COVID-related reason as set forth in the CARES Act to qualify for PUA. Please visit our PUA FAQs to find out more.
You may be eligible for up to 53 weeks of PEUC if you remain unemployed and cannot qualify for a new regular unemployment claim.
The UC program pays up to 26 weeks of benefits. The PEUC program provides eligible individuals with up to 53 additional weeks of benefits after you have exhausted your regular UC. The last payable week of PEUC is September 4, 2021.
PEUC is available beginning the week ending April 4, 2020 through September 4, 2021.
PEUC is paid either by direct deposit or debit card.
If you signed up to receive your UC benefits by direct deposit within the last two years, your PEUC payments will be deposited directly into your bank account and you do not need to submit a new direct deposit application. If you received UC benefits most recently by debit card, your PEUC payments will be made to you by debit card unless you choose direct deposit.
If you have lost your debit card, contact U.S. Bank ReliaCard® at 888-233-5916 or 888-233-5916 TTY.