IMPORTANT: Federal Programs (PUA, FPUC, PEUC, MEUC) ended on September 4, 2021 https://portal.ct.gov/DOLUI/FPUC

What is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program?

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a program that temporarily expands unemployment insurance (UI) eligibility to self-employed workers, 1099 employees, "gig" workers, workers in jobs not covered by regular unemployment benefits, and independent contractors impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

In general, PUA provides up to 79 weeks of benefits (weeks individuals have received from regular Unemployment Compensation or Extended Benefits after February 2, 2020 are subtracted from the 79 weeks) to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state unemployment compensation law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to one of the COVID-19 related reasons.

 

Who does PUA cover?

PUA provides benefits to covered individuals, who are those individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or Federal law or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation (PEUC), including those who have been disqualified from or have exhausted all rights to such benefits. Covered individuals also include self-employed, those seeking part-time employment, individuals lacking sufficient work history, and those who otherwise do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or Federal law or PEUC.

 

How many weeks of PUA can be collected?

Individuals eligible to collect PUA who were not eligible for regular unemployment benefits (such as the self-employed) can collect up to 79 weeks of PUA, or 86 weeks if Connecticut is in a period of High Unemployment, with the final 40 weeks only being payable after December 26, 2020. Also note, PUA cannot be paid for weeks after the end of the program (currently September 4, 2021) regardless of whether all weeks have been paid out.

 

Does the PUA program use the same system to submit a PUA application as the regular unemployment benefits program?

No. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program is managed in a system separate from the regular unemployment system, called ReEmployCT.

 

I filed for PUA and got paid my back weeks. How do I get paid moving forward?

To continue to receive your benefits, you must file weekly certifications. Starting with the next calendar week after you submitted your PUA application (as early as Sunday), you will need to access the ReEmployCT system and submit a Weekly Certification.

• From the your account home page, click Weekly Certification → File Weekly Certification, and answer each question. You will be answering the questions for the previous calendar week.

 

What will my PUA Benefit Rate be?

For individuals who are monetarily eligible for regular unemployment benefits, and have exhausted entitlement or have been disqualified: The US Department of Labor has clarified that an individual’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) will be based upon their earnings from calendar year 2019. Your WBA will be calculated based upon one twenty-sixth (1/26) of the average of total wages during the two highest quarters during 2019, or 1/26 of your highest quarter of 2019 if you are a construction worker. The maximum PUA WBA is $667.00. If you have qualifying dependents, you will receive an additional $15.00 for each dependent, up to five dependents for a total of $75.00 dependency allowance.

For individuals who are monetarily ineligible for regular unemployment benefits: Initially, your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is set at the PUA minimum WBA ($198, before qualified dependency allowance). If you enter your 2019 wages during the application process and upload proof of your earnings within 21 (twenty-one) days of submitting your PUA application, CTDOL will determine if a recalculation of your benefit amount is warranted. If so, your WBA will be recalculated based upon one twenty-sixth (1/26) of the average of total wages earned (gross wages for employees, net earnings for self-employed) during the two highest quarters in the applicable base period, or 1/26 of your highest quarter if you are a construction worker. The maximum PUA WBA is $667.00. If you have qualifying dependents, you will receive an additional $15.00 for each dependent, up to five dependents for a total of $75.00 dependency allowance.

Note: The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation $600 federally funded payment will be added to your weekly benefit amount for those weeks which you are eligible for between April 4, 2020 and July 25, 2020.

I was not monetarily eligible for regular unemployment benefits. If I don’t have my tax and earnings documentation available to upload during the application process, can I upload it at a later time?

Yes. You may access your ReEmployCT account and select the "Proof of Wages" menu option to upload documents.

If you do not upload your earnings documentation during the application process, you must upload them within 21 days of submitting your PUA application in order for your documents to be considered.

Please note, in order to be able to upload documents during the application process or afterwards, you must enter your 2019 earnings during the application process.

 

Can I work part-time while collecting PUA?

Yes, you can work part-time and file for partial benefits under PUA by reporting your earnings (gross wages for employees, NET earnings for self-employed) when you file your weekly certifications. Two-thirds of your earnings reported will be deducted from your PUA benefit rate for weeks you report your part-time work and wages.

 

If I qualify for state unemployment benefits but at a low rate, can I choose to go on PUA instead?

No, if you qualify for state unemployment benefits, you must file against them, regardless of the rate.

 

If I collect partial PUA benefits by working part-time and filing, will the number of weeks I am eligible to collect payments for be increased beyond 79 (or 79 minus the number weeks of regular benefits and Extended Benefits collected since February 2, 2020)?

No, unlike regular unemployment benefits where you can file more than 26 weeks if you file partials, PUA is payable for 79 weeks of filing, or fewer if you collected regular benefits and/or Extended Benefits since February 2, 2020, regardless if the weeks are partial or total benefit weeks.

 

When does the PUA program end?

The PUA program is effective February 2, 2020, and new applications can be taken through September 4, 2021, with the latest effective date August 29 , 2021. Additionally, for applications submitted after December 27, 2020, the earliest effective date can be December 6, 2020.

Based on the current legislation, benefits can be paid through week-ending September 4, 2021.

Are PUA benefits taxable?

Yes, PUA benefits are taxable against both the federal income tax (IRS) and state income tax.

 

What are the minimum and maximum PUA weekly benefit amounts?

The minimum PUA weekly amount is $198. Currently the maximum PUA weekly amount is $667. The maximum weekly benefit amount is adjusted annually, in October.

 

Will the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment be added to PUA payments?

Yes. PUA payments between for weeks April 4, 2020 and July 25, 2020 will include the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment of $600.00 Payments for weeks between January 2, 2021 and March 13, 2021 will include the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payment of $300.00.

 

Where would I add or modify payment option (Direct Deposit, Debit Card) while collecting PUA? In the PUA system?

No, use the CT Tax and Benefits System (CTABS) to add or modify payment information. CTABS is accessed at www.filectui.com (This is the GREEN button on the www.filectui.com site).

 

When I update my payment information in the Connecticut Tax and Benefits System, is my payment information immediately transferred to ReEmployCT?

No, it takes one business day for your updated payment information to be processed into the ReEmployCT system.

 

Will my child support be deducted from PUA?

Yes, if CTDOL has an active child support order against your claim, child support will be deducted weekly from each payable week in accordance to state statute while receiving PUA benefits.

 

If I have an unemployment overpayment, will it be offset against PUA?

Yes, federal law stipulates that unemployment overpayments be recouped 50% against PUA. Note - Per state law, Unemployment Benefits cannot be paid while there is an outstanding monetary penalty. If you have an outstanding monetary penalty, PUA benefits must be held until the monetary penalty is paid off.