LINCOLN – The US Department of Labor has informed states that extended federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits will begin with the week ending January 2.  Workers with claims that began under the CARES Act and who meet weekly eligibility requirements will not have a gap in eligibility with the start of the Continued Assistance Act, signed into law December 27.  Benefit payments will be issued as further USDOL guidance is received and federal funding becomes available.

Workers claiming Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) who certified their eligibility for the week ending December 26 should certify again starting Sunday for the week ending January 2.  Claimants unable to certify should not file a new claim.  NDOL will provide further instructions regarding when to refile.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• Will provide up to an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 50 weeks.
• Claimants will be required to provide documentation of eligibility to qualify.
• PUA will be available until week ending March 13, 2021 (no new applications after that date), with allowance for three additional weeks of benefits for those who have not reached the maximum number of weeks through week ending April 3, 2021.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• Will provide up to an additional 11 weeks of benefits, to a maximum of 24 weeks.
• PEUC will be available until week ending March 13, 2021 (no new applications after that date), with allowance for three additional weeks of benefits for those who have not reached the maximum number of weeks through week ending April 3, 2021.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

• Will provide up to 11 weeks of an additional $300 weekly benefit to eligible claimants.
• All claimants eligible through a separate unemployment program will receive FPUC.
• Once implemented, FPUC will be available to cover weeks of unemployment between Dec. 27, 2020 and week ending March 13, 2021.  NDOL anticipates federal funds will be available to issue payments by the end of next week.

Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)                                                                                

• Nebraska has opted into this program and will release more details as federal guidance is received.
• Individuals who receive at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income will receive an additional $100 weekly benefit, in addition to the benefit amounts they otherwise would be eligible for from traditional employment under state law.
• The new federally funded “mixed earner” benefit is in addition to the $300 supplemental weekly benefit under FPUC.

Instructions for individuals who exhausted federal benefits prior to December 26 will be issued once further federal guidance is received.

The unemployment call center has no further information at this time.

NDOL news releases are available online at dol.nebraska.gov