SPECIAL REPORT: Status of Federal Unemployment Benefits
In furtherance of our April 6, 2020 Special Report regarding unemployment benefits, IDES has been overwhelmed with the increased number of filings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March 1 through April 4, it received 513,173 new unemployment claims. To better handle the influx of unemployment claims, Illinois is in the process of overhauling the IDES infrastructure and expanding the call center capacity.
Below is a brief update as to the status of the additional assistance being provided as part of the unemployment benefits:
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
FPUC was authorized by Section 2104 of the CARES Act. FPUC provides an additional $600 per week of temporary emergency unemployment benefits to anyone entitled to regular state unemployment benefits. Eligible claimants will automatically receive (or may have already received) FPUC benefits in the week of April 5th or April 12th for unemployment benefits beginning with the week of March 29th and only continuing through the week ending July 26, 2020. FPUC benefits are taxable, and child support obligations must be deducted from in the same manner and extent as regular unemployment compensation.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
PUA provides a total of 39 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits to individuals that have become unemployed as a direct result of COVID-19 crisis who are not typically eligible for unemployment benefits such as independent contractors and self-proprietors. Unfortunately, IDES has yet to implement PUA, and have contracted Deloitte to implement and maintain this program. IDES intends to have PUA fully implemented by the week of May 11. Additional details about PUA, how to apply, and eligibility requirements should be available as soon as they are finalized and implemented.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
PEUC provides up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to individuals who have exhausted their 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. PEUC will be retroactive once implemented, and is entirely federally funded. Eligible claimants are potentially entitled to PEUC for weeks beginning on or after March 29, 2020 and continuing through the week ending December 26, 2020. The United States Department of Labor provided IDES with guidelines on April 10, and PUA is expected to be fully implemented the week of April 20.
CONTACT:
Andrew J. Annes, Esquire
aannes@satclaw.com
mobile: (312) 246-3110
John W. Campbell, Jr., Esquire
jcampbell@satclaw.com
mobile: (312) 391-3126