How many weeks of COVID-19 unemployment insurance benefits am I entitled to?
Am I eligible for PUA benefits if I quit my job because of COVID-19?
Is there additional relief available if my regular unemployment compensation benefits do not provide adequate support?
The new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC (including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), PEUC, PUA, Extended Benefits (EB), Short Time Compensation (STC), Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA), Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), and payments under the Self Employment Assistance (SEA) program). This benefit is available for weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which your state entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor and ending with weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020.
Can self-employed individuals qualify for PUA benefits?
What if an employee refuses to come to work for fear of infection?
- Your policies, that have been clearly communicated, should address this.
- Educating your workforce is a critical part of your responsibility.
- Local and state regulations may address what you have to do and you should align with them.
Can I be forced to work during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Are self-employed, independent contractor and gig workers eligible for the new COVID-19 unemployment benefits?
Self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and people who have not worked long enough to qualify for the other types of unemployment assistance may still qualify for PUA if they are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of the applicable state law and certify that they are unemployed, partially unemployed or unable or unavailable to work for one of the following COVID-19 reasons:
You have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have symptoms, and are seeking a medical diagnosis.
A member of your household has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
You are caring for a family member of a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
A child or other person in your household for whom you have primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of COVID-19 and the school or facility care is required for you to work.
What kinds of relief does the CARES Act provide for people who are about to exhaust regular unemployment benefits?
Can I get unemployment assistance if I am partially employed under the CARES Act?
A gig economy worker, such as a driver for a ride-sharing service, is eligible for PUA provided that he or she is unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work for one or more of the qualifying reasons provided for by the CARES Act.
Who is considered to be essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Who do I do if my employer refuses to provide me sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Can you quit and get coronavirus unemployment benefits?
There are multiple qualifying circumstances related to COVID-19 that can make an individual eligible for PUA, including if the individual quits his or her job as a direct result of COVID-19. Quitting to access unemployment benefits is not one of them.
Individuals who quit their jobs to access higher benefits, and are untruthful in their UI application about their reason for quitting, will be considered to have committed fraud. If desired, employers can contest unemployment insurance claims through their state unemployment insurance agency’s process.
How do I know if my business is considered critical during the coronavirus disease pandemic?
The Department of Homeland Security developed a listexternal iconexternal icon of essential critical infrastructure workers to help state and local officials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety as well as economic and national security. State and local officials make the final determinations for their jurisdictions about critical infrastructure workers.
Who are some groups at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19?
Some people may be at higher risk of severe illness. This includes older adults (65 years and older) and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions. By using strategies that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, you will help protect all employees, including those at higher risk.
Who can I talk to about work stress during the COVID-19 pandemic?
If you feel you or someone in your household may harm themselves or someone else:
• National self-destruction Prevention Lifeline
Toll-free number 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
The Online Lifeline Crisis Chat is free and confidential. You’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233 and TTY 1-800-787-3224
If you are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety:
• Disaster Distress Helpline
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
• Check with your employer for information about possible employee assistance program resources.
What are the CDC guidelines for healthy business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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Implement flexible worksites (e.g., telework).
Implement flexible work hours (e.g., rotate or stagger shifts to limit the number of employees in the workplace at the same time).
Increase physical space between employees at the worksite by modifying the workspace.
What are some steps my employer should take to maintain a healthy work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic?
⁃ Move the electronic payment terminal/credit card reader farther away from the cashier in order to increase the distance between the customer and the cashier, if possible.
⁃ Use verbal announcements on the loudspeaker and place signage throughout the establishment, at entrances, in restrooms, and in breakrooms to remind employees and customers to maintain distances of 6 feet from others.
⁃ Place visual cues such as floor decals, colored tape, or signs to indicate to customers where they should stand during check out.
⁃ Shift primary stocking activities to off-peak or after hours when possible to reduce contact with customers.
⁃ Remove or rearrange chairs and tables or add visual cue marks in employee break rooms to support social distancing practices between employees. Identify alternative areas such as closed customer seating spaces to accommodate overflow volume.
What can be done to protect employees who cannot maintain social distancing from other employees or customers?
Evaluate your workplace to identify situations where employees cannot maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other and/or customers. Use appropriate combinations of controls following the hierarchy of controls to addresses these situations to limit the spread of COVID-19. A committee of both employees and management may be the most effective way to recognize all of these scenarios.
It is important to note that control recommendations or interventions assigned to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 must be compatible with any safety programs and personal protective equipment (PPE) normally required for the job task.