Unemployment Benefits Under the CARES Act Explained (PART II)
- The CARES Act provides financial support to those who have been laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- The CARES Act includes three different unemployment compensations strategies.
- Additional assistance with receiving unemployment benefits and frequently asked questions can be viewed on the United States Department of Labor website.
The CARES Act provides financial support to those who have been laid off due to the coronavirus outbreak. The CARES Act includes three different unemployment compensations strategies which are the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, the Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Additional assistance with receiving unemployment benefits and frequently asked questions can be viewed on the United States Department of Labor website. Below is a summarized version of each unemployment strategy.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
Individuals who qualified for unemployment benefits under the federal and state law will receive:
An additional $600 per week.
- Unemployment compensation under state law between April 5, 2020, to July 31, 2020.
Pandemic Unemployment Emergency Compensation
For individuals who could deplete their state's unemployment benefits will receive:
- The federal government funding for 13-weeks of additional unemployment benefits through December 31, 2020.
- An additional $600 per week.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Some individuals who would have not otherwise been eligible for benefits under the state law can now apply for unemployment benefits, those individual include:
- Self-employed
- Independent contractors
- Non-traditional workers
- Those with limited work history
Also, those who are unemployed, partially unemployed or unable to work due to COVID-19 are eligible for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act - Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - but must also meet additional requirements such as:
- Diagnosed with coronavirus or is experiencing symptoms of coronavirus and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
- A member of the household has been diagnosed with coronavirus;
- Caring for a family member or household member who has been diagnosed with coronavirus;
- Primary caregiver for a child or other person in the household who cannot attend a school or another facility that has been closed as due to the coronavirus outbreak and such school or facility care is required for the individual to work;
- Unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of coronavirus;
- Unable to reach the place of employment because a health care provider has advised the individual to self-quarantine due to coronavirus concerns;
- Was scheduled to begin new a job and does not have a job or can no longer reach the prospective place of work due to the coronavirus;
- Became the breadwinner or significant support for the household because the head of the household has died due to the coronavirus;
- Forced to quit a job due to the coronavirus; or
- The place of employment is closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
To learn more about your state’s unemployment insurance office location or phone number, click here.
To find out more about your state unemployment benefits, click here.
To learn more about the unemployment relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website, click here.