Am I eligible for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Am I eligible for unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic?

See full answerEach state sets its own unemployment insurance benefits eligibility guidelines, but you usually qualify if you:

• Are unemployed through no fault of your own. In most states, this means you have to have separated from your last job due to a lack of available work.
• Meet work and wage requirements. You must meet your state’s requirements for wages earned or time worked during an established period of time referred to as a “base period.” (In most states, this is usually the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters before the time that your claim is filed.)
• Meet any additional state requirements. Find details of your own state’s program.

Is there additional relief available if my regular unemployment compensation benefits do not provide adequate support?

See full answerThe new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC (including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), PEUC, PUA, Extended Benefits (EB), Short Time Compensation (STC), Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and payments under the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program). This benefit is available for weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which your state entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor and ending with weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020.

How suitable employment is connected to unemployment insurance eligibility?

Most state unemployment insurance laws include language defining suitable employment. Typically, suitable employment is connected to the previous job’s wage level, type of work, and the claimant’s skills.Refusing an offer of suitable employment (as defined in state law) without good cause will often disqualify individuals from continued eligibility for unemployment compensation.

How should a representative payee use a beneficiary’s economic impact payment (EIP) during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The EIP belongs to the Social Security or SSI beneficiary. It is not a Social Security or SSI benefit. A representative payee should discuss the EIP with the beneficiary. If the beneficiary wants to use the EIP independently, the representative payee should provide the EIP to the beneficiary. If the beneficiary asks the representative payee for assistance in using the EIP in a specific manner or saving it, the representative payee can provide that assistance outside the role of a representative payee.

What if an employee refuses to come to work for fear of infection?

Your policies, that have been clearly communicated, should address this.

Educating your workforce is a critical part of your responsibility.

Local and state regulations may address what you have to do and you should align with them.

Am I eligible for PUA benefits if I quit my job because of COVID-19?

There are multiple qualifying circumstances related to COVID-19 that can make an individual eligible for PUA, including if the individual quits his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19. Quitting to access unemployment benefits is not one of them.

What kinds of relief does the CARES Act provide for people who are about to exhaust regular unemployment benefits?

Under the CARES Act states are permitted to extend unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks under the new Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program.

Can I get unemployment assistance if I am partially employed under the CARES Act?

A gig economy worker, such as a driver for a ride-sharing service, is eligible for PUA provided that he or she is unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work for one or more of the qualifying reasons provided for by the CARES Act.

How is the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) Card sent and how do I identify it?

The EIP Card is a debit card sent by U.S. Mail in a white envelope with the U.S. Department of the Treasury seal and a return address from “Economic Impact Payment Card.”The card has the Visa name on the front and the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A., on the back. Information included with the EIP Card explains that this is your Economic Impact Payment. If you receive an EIP Card, visit EIPcard.com for more information.

Can I be forced to work during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Generally, your employer may require you to come to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some government emergency orders may affect which businesses can remain open during the pandemic. Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a safe and healthful workplace.

Are individuals eligible for PUA if they quit their job because of the COVID-19 pandemic?

How do I identify the COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment (EIP) card?

Can I get a job while on unemployment after an injury?

You will also be expected to accept work if offered when you are on unemployment. However, the reality is that if your injury leaves you unable to work, you would not be able to take a job if offered to you.

Can you collect unemployment if you have surgery?

Able to Work. As an unemployment claimant, you have a duty to actively seek work; and if you are physically unable to work, you can’t truly seek work. If your surgery procedure is one that would prevent you performing your job if you were employed, you couldn’t collect unemployment benefits for that time either.

Can you get unemployment benefits if you have an illness?

If you are suffering from an illness orinjury, you may not be eligible forunemployment benefits until you are once again ableto work. However, an employee who has a disability andcould work if provided a reasonable accommodation generallywill be considered able to work.

Can you collect unemployment if you are out of work?

Can You Collect Unemployment if You Are Out of Work Due to an Injury? The general answer to this question is “no.” To collect unemployment benefits, you must be physically able and available to work. In other words, you will be expected to actively look for work. You will also be expected to accept work if offered when you are on unemployment.