Unemployment Benefits Guidance

Many of you have called with, or sent in, questions about pandemic-related unemployment compensation (UC). Two new resources released over the weekend address state unemployment benefits administration under the CARES Act, including the Department of Labor (DOL) guidance issued on Friday to help states implement the expanded UC benefits.  We wanted to call out these tools because they may help answer your questions:

• Guidance on implementing the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which makes benefits available for self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig workers, and others who do not regularly qualify for unemployment assistance.
• Guidance on Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, under which states will administer an additional $600 weekly payment to eligible individuals.