The Criteria for COVID-19 Related Unemployment Benefits
The federal government provides funding for people to receive unemployment benefits due to COVID-19 under the CARES Act. The funding covers employees as follows:
• An additional weekly payment of $600 for up to 3 months. That is in addition to the any payments received under a state unemployment program. (Effective March 27, 2020)
• First week of unemployment benefits for states that choose to pay recipients as soon as they become unemployed instead of waiting one week before the individual is eligible to receive benefits.
• An additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to help those who remain unemployed after the states program has been exhausted. (This is retroactively effective January 7, 2020 through December 31,2020.)
• Individuals who are not traditionally eligible for unemployment benefits under state laws such as self-employed, independent contractors, those with limited work history,
• Others who are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency. The employee must self-attest that they qualify under one of the following reasons.
1. The individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis.
2. A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
3. The individual is providing care for a family member or a member of the individual’s household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
4. A child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and such school or facility care is required for the individual to work.
5. The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
6. The individual is unable to reach the place of employment because the individual has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
7. The individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID19 public health emergency.
8. The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of COVID-19.
9. The individual has to quit his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19; or
10. The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Each state’s unemployment agency will be responsible for validating whether an employee qualifies for benefits under COVID 19 using one of the 10 exceptions listed above.
For more information please contact Tina.Nguyen@ucalternative.com
