Labor & Industry Secretary Jennifer Berrier is reminding Pennsylvanians that federal unemployment benefit programs will finish on September 4. The programs include Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
“The federal unemployment benefit programs that helped many workers during the most difficult days of the pandemic will soon end,” said Secretary Berrier. “We encourage those receiving these temporary benefits to prepare for this change. L&I is working with its partner agencies and organizations to help identify programs and support services to help Pennsylvanians with this transition.”
The state’s regular unemployment compensation program and those receiving benefits from it are unaffected.
According to the Pennsylvania Government website, PEUC provided additional weeks to individuals enrolled in the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program. When PEUC ends Sept. 4, UC will switch to providing up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. Under that claim, individuals who have exhausted their 26 weeks of UC benefits will no longer receive benefit payments for weeks of unemployment after Sept. 4.
📢ATTN PA’ians: The federal unemployment benefit programs listed below will end Sept. 4, 2021.
🛑PEUC
🛑PUA
🛑FPUC
💟Help is still available! Access full list of PA programs that can provide assistance: https://t.co/SMsncwcNpo
Learn more: https://t.co/ZrZ9jUNuq4 pic.twitter.com/X5RuY2Nq3h
— PA Department of Labor & Industry (@PALaborIndustry) August 10, 2021
PUA provided unemployment benefits to individuals who were not typically eligible for UC, such as gig workers and self-employed individuals. Individuals on the PUA program will no longer receive payments for weeks of unemployment after September unless they become eligible for the UC program.
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FPUC provided an additional $300 per week to individuals who are receiving at least $1 in other unemployment program benefits. After Sept. 4, individuals will no longer receive the additional money every week and will only receive the benefit payment they are eligible for under UC.
Explore options
L&I urges individuals currently enrolled in PEUC and PUA to explore their options through free jobseeker services offered through PA CareerLink. These services include access to a free job database, résumé assistance, information about reskilling opportunities, and more.
On Aug. 12, PA CareerLink® locations across the state will offer job fairs, open houses, employer talks, and other free jobseeker activities as part of “PA CareerLink® Day – Join the Workforce in PA.” Individuals seeking a new job are encouraged to attend and bring their resume. A full list of activities for each location is available here.
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