New Yorkers who already have unemployment benefits do not need to call the state Department of Labor to receive an additional 300 approved approvals by the federal government in late December.
The extra money and two expanded federal programs will begin Sunday, the first date approved by the federal government.
Those who are already in a program should continue to be certified on a weekly basis and, according to the Department of Labor, will automatically receive extended benefits.
The Congress approved the additional relief after the last round of benefits expired in the last week of December. The states were given little time to organize and get money to millions of unemployed people without losing a check.
New York State was ready. Unemployment checks in the NY state will not leave a week.
The Labor Department’s phone lines are filled with callers who want to know what needs to be done to qualify for the expanded program. That means people who really need to solve the problem with their claim can’t get an answer.
Instead of calling, read this:
Everyone who already has any type of unemployment insurance will receive an additional 300 300 per week for 11 weeks from January 3 to March 14. This means that people who benefit from the soup of any of the alphabets of the programs will get extra money. They just need to be certified every week as usual.
There are three federal programs that extend benefits beyond the state’s typical 26 weeks. Two of those programs ended on December 26 and have now been extended. Has been in third place.
One of those programs is especially important in New York’s gig workers’ economy. The epidemic goes to unemployed aid or PUA, self-employed workers who generally do not qualify for unemployment benefits. That program now offers benefits for 57 weeks. Those who qualify by March 14 will continue to claim benefits until they reach the maximum week or until the week beginning April 5.
PUA recipients should continue to certify as usual each week to gain extended benefits. From January 31, the federal government will need additional proof of eligibility. The state labor department will contact people who need more paperwork.
The Epidemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, or PEUC, is for people who have used the usual 26 weeks of traditional state unemployment insurance. In 2020, there was a 13-week limit for PEUCs. Which has now been extended to 24 weeks. As with other programs, those who qualify by March 14 will continue to claim benefits until they reach the maximum week or until the week beginning April 5.
There is a third program, called Extended Benefits. It is an old program that provides an additional 20 weeks in states with high unemployment rates. New York now qualifies for this program.
Tired people enrolled in this third program in 2020 with 26 weeks of state insurance and 13 weeks of PEUC.
When those extended benefits expire, the state Department of Labor will automatically transfer people back to the PEUC program. Again, no need to call.
People who need to apply for unemployment insurance for the first time can do so online.
Those whose benefits have reached the end of the year will have to reapply 52 weeks after they first claimed them. It can also be done online.
Contact Michelle Bridenbach | [email protected] | 315-470-3186.
