DOL Continues to Clarify CARES Act Unemployment Benefits Programs

As jobless claims reach record highs, states now have more guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) on how to roll out the emergency unemployment benefits provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. On April 10, the DOL published one of several letters providing states with operating, financial, and reporting instructions for unemployment provisions of the act.

The $2.2 trillion CARES Act aims to help struggling businesses and individuals during the coronavirus pandemic. Among other provisions, the legislation increases the weekly unemployment benefits workers can receive and extends the time they can receive payments. The legislation also expands eligibility to include independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed.

There are three CARES Act unemployment programs:

1.  Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
2.  Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
3.  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Learn more about these programs here, courtesy of SHRM….