Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program

PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (PUA)

Summary Fact Sheet

Updated as of 04-22-2020

What is PUA?

The temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) United States program is a new unemployment benefit that also applies to the Federated States of Micronesia. The PUA program provides temporary benefits for people who lost their jobs as a direct result of COVID-19.  In FSM, the Department of Finance and Administration (DoFA) is in charge for PUA and the U.S. Department of Labor (Department) oversees the PUA program.

QUALIFYING For PUA

People who have lost their jobs or have to reduce working hours due to the following reasons might currently qualify for PUA:

  • 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;
  • 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 COVID-19 public health emergency; or
  • The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

 

PUA is generally not payable to workers who have voluntarily quit their place of work.

FILING A PUA CLAIM

People need to fill out an application form providing their personal data and self-declaration describing the reasons why the job was lost because of COVID-19. Also, applicants will need to provide proof (e.g., paystubs, income tax return, bank statements) of their former employment. The details for apllying for PUA are currently being worked out by both the US Department of Labor and DoFA. This fact sheet will be continuously updated to keep the public informed when PUA will be fully available and applications will be taken in.

CONTINUED BENEFIT PAYMENTS

After filing a PUA application, an individual must request continued PUA benefit payments according to the instructions given by DoFA.

FEDERAL PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION (FPUC)

Individuals who receive at least one dollar ($1) of PUA benefits for a week, will also receive an additional $600 supplemental payment under the FPUC program.  However, FPUC is only payed for a shorter period, between from April 03 2020 to  July 31, 2020.

BENEFIT DURATION AND WEEKLY BENEFIT AMOUNT (WBA)

PUA is payable beginning on or after January 27, 2020 and ending on or before December 31, 2020.  The duration of PUA benefits payable to an individual is generally limited to 39 weeks.

The weekly amount for FSM during this time is 166 USD per week.

APPEALS

Any denial of PUA benefits may be appealed by following the DoFA instructions concerning appeal rights and deadlines for timely filing of appeals.