More than 400,000 Pennsylvania residents had active claims through the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program at the end of December, according to the state.
Another estimated 109,000 unemployed state residents were active in the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which provides an additional 39 weeks of payments.
Both federal programs, which provided cash benefits to individuals who otherwise don’t qualify for regular unemployment benefits, expired on Dec. 26. Independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed were covered under this program.
Berrier blamed the holdup on changes under the federal CARES Act extension legislation, which requires the state make additional changes in the program.
By Mark Starling
NC Senator Says Trump Bears Responsibility For DC Violence
(Washington, DC) A North Carolina senator has strong words for President Trump over yesterday s violent riots at the nation s Capitol. Republican Richard Burr said Wednesday night that Trump bears responsibility for the events. He also criticized the president for fueling the fires by spreading what he called unfounded conspiracy theories.
Governor Extends Curfew Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases
(Raleigh, NC) The curfew is being extended due to COVID-19 trends in North Carolina. Governor Roy Cooper announced yesterday the 10 p.m. curfew will now last through January 29th. The state s top health official, Dr, Mandy Cohen, is urging people to stay at home with the exception of essential activities. The total of deaths due to COVID-19 in North Carolina rose over seven-thousand on Wednesday.
Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
Jan 7, 2021 9:53 AM
During the week of Dec. 27 through Jan. 2, a total of 542 initial weekly claims for state unemployment benefits were processed by the Department of Labor and Regulation. This is a decrease of 113 claims from the prior week’s total of 655.
A total of $1.0 million was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $150,000 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), $220,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and $175,000 in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits.
South Dakota began paying the additional $300 weekly FPUC benefit effective week ending Jan. 2. This is a new, extended provision under the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020.
N.J. unemployment update: Extra $300 checks to begin this week, Labor Department says
Updated Jan 14, 2021;
New Jersey workers collecting unemployment benefits may start to see supplemental $300 checks in their bank accounts as early as next week, the Labor Department announced Wednesday.
The checks are in addition to regular unemployment benefits, and anyone collecting any amount from any federal or state program should receive the benefit, known as the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
The supplemental benefit program, which runs from Jan. 2 through March 13, was revived after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion stimulus package. The program was originally authorized under the CARES Act, which expired on July 31.
It will take two to four weeks for the state to begin distributing new federal unemployment benefits, though it “may be a little sooner” because the state is upgrading its outdated computer system this week, Joe Barela, executive director of Colorado’s Department of Labor and employment, said in a surprise visit during a call with reporters on Tuesday.
The programs will roll out in phases, Barela said. “Most likely, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which is the additional $300 a week, will be the first program we roll out once we have that programmed and ready to go.”
That’s a relief to a half-million Coloradans who are in the state’s unemployment system. Many saw their benefits end on the day after Christmas, when the CARES Act expired and stopped paying federal benefits to self-employed and gig workers and to tens of thousands of Coloradans who had used up their regular state unemployment benefits.