HARRISBURG, Pa. – Due to Congressional legislation to extend federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs were postponed in Washington, DC, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I ) is strongly encouraging the more than 500,000 Pennsylvania residents who receive payments through these endangered programs to seek other forms of assistance.
According to a statement released on Saturday under the current CARES Act, both programs will be discontinued later this month and Pennsylvania claimants will not receive payments after the week ending December 26.
“Pennsylvania citizens who receive payments from PUA or PEUC need to be aware that they will not be able to file a claim next week and should start preparing now to seek out the needs they will need by other means,” said the L&I acting secretary. , Jennifer Berrier. “I urge current PUA and PEUC claimants to request additional assistance through non-L&I programs as soon as possible to prevent their families from reaching an emergency or dangerous situation.
The United States Department of Labor (US DOL) cannot issue guidance for extensions to the PUA and PEUC program and required changes to programs in the CARES Act extension legislation until the project is converted into law.
According to the authorities, as states cannot begin implementing the new law’s programs and provisions before receiving guidance from the US DOL, applicants for PUA and PEUC will spend several weeks between the time the extension of the program is signed into law and payments resumed.
The Department of Labor and Industry encourages PUA and PEUC applicants to review the following resources for eligibility and apply immediately if they qualify:
PUA and PEUC applicants are also encouraged to use the United Way of Pennsylvania’s 211 program to identify local resources, including food banks, housing assistance and public services. Applicants can review the programs available on their postal code by visiting pa211.org, sending their postal code to 898-211 or calling 211 at any time.
According to officials, throughout November and December, Governor Tom Wolf and L&I leaders repeatedly asked the federal government to approve an extension of the CARES Act before it expired in late 2020.
The Department of Labor and Industry will make updates on the PUA and PEUC programs and other federal programs affected by the extension of the CARES Act as soon as the information becomes available, officials say.
More Pennsylvania resources and tips, including financial aid with credit, mortgage or rental cards, and mental health resources, are available by clicking on “COVID-19” at www.pa.gov.