HARRISBURG, Pa. – Due to Congressional legislation to expand the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs, the Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) has been delayed in Washington, DC. Pennsylvania is encouraging the more than 500,000 Pennsylvanians who receive payments through these overdue programs to seek other forms of assistance.
According to a statement released Saturday, under the current CARES Act, both programs will stop later this month and Pennsylvania claimants will not receive payments after the week ending Dec. 26.
“Pennsylvania residents receiving PUA or PEUC payments should be aware that they will not be able to file a claim next week and should begin preparing now to look for the needs they will need by other means,” the acting secretary said. L&I, Jennifer Berrier. “I urge current PUA and PEUC plaintiffs to seek additional assistance through out-of-L&I programs as soon as possible to prevent their families from reaching an emergency or dangerous situation.”
The U.S. Department of Labor (US DOL) cannot issue guidelines for PUA and PEUC program extensions and demanded changes to the CARES Act extension legislation programs until the bill becomes law.
According to officials, since states cannot begin implementing the programs and provisions of the new law until they receive U.S. DOL guidance, PUA and PEUC plaintiffs will experience several weeks between the time the extension of the program is signed into law and payment is resumed.
The Department of Labor and Industry encourages PUA and PEUC applicants to review the following appeals for eligibility and apply immediately if they meet the requirements:
PUA and PEUC applicants are also encouraged to use the United Way of Pennsylvania program 211 to identify local resources, including food banks, housing assistance, and utility assistance. Claimants can review the programs available in their zip code by visiting pa211.org, texting 898-211, or calling 211 at any time.
According to officials, throughout November and December, Gov. Tom Wolf and L&I leaders repeatedly called for the federal government to approve an extension of the CARES Act before it expires in late 2020.
According to officials, the Department of Labor and Industry will update the PUA and PEUC programs and other federal programs affected by the CARES Act extension.
Click on “COVID-19” at www.pa.gov for more resources and tips in Pennsylvania, including financial aid with credit cards, mortgage or rent, and mental health resources.