Federal and State Unemployment
March 30, 2020
May 22, 2020 (Update)
These are difficult times for many of us. Intelligent Partnerships is committed to helping you navigate the current landscape.
The CARES Act and a subsequent Executive Order expanded Unemployment Benefits.
To find out if how to file and if you are eligible for Unemployment Benefits, visit this page.
Please note that the downloadable resources may contain outdated information. We have done our best to provide the most current information on this page.
Expansion of Unemployment Benefits:
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Expired: The federal unemployment benefits of $600 per week will last for four months (through July 31, 2020).
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The CARES Act has added 13 weeks unemployment benefits. In the state of Washington, this means that the normal 26 weeks that people may collect unemployment has been lengthened to 39 weeks under the CARES Act.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance:
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The CARES Act has expanded unemployment benefits to workers who are not traditionally eligible to collect unemployment benefits. Eligibility has expanded to self-employed workers (i.e., independent contractors, gig workers, and freelancers), those who are seeking part-time work, and those who have not been working long enough to normally qualify for unemployment benefits.
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The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program will expire on December 31, 2020.
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In order to receive benefits under the PUA, you will need to provide documentation proving your status as either fully or partially unemployed OR that you are unable to work due to:
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A COVID-19 diagnosis of yourself, a member of your household, or someone you are providing care for,
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Providing care for a child or other household member whose school or work is closed as a result of COVID-19,
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A state-mandated quarantine or a self-quarantine advised by a health care provider,
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A workplace closure, inability to reach your place of employment, or quitting your job as a direct result of COVID-19, or
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You meet other conditions that the Secretary of Labor has established.
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More Information
Federal law provides states flexibility to pay benefits where:
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An employer temporarily ceases operations due to COVID-19, preventing employees from coming to work;
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An individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over; and
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An individual leaves employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member.
In addition, federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits
due to the impact of COVID-19.
If you find yourself currently unemployed and your network or situation is not enough, there are additional resources. Help finding work, the US DOL provides employment assistance through the American Job Center system.
Additional Resources you may need to understand the benefit impacts if you get
sick. IP released this information on FMLA, and you can find out about options and resources to help deal with your personal finances from the Consumer Financial Protection Agency that includes information for workers struggling with
their mortgages.