Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Roll-Out
July 6, 2020 VIDOL Implemented the third Program under the CARES Act
USVI-July 7, 2020- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) implementation started July 6, 2020.
The PUA program provides unemployment assistance to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes self-employed individuals, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, taxi drivers, employees of churches, employees of non-profits, or those with limited work history who do not qualify for our regular unemployment benefits program.
Step 1: Individuals must apply for regular unemployment online application on www.vidol.gov or with the Call Center at 877-374-0356. That applicant will receive one (1) email stating that the application was received that includes an application number. (Please retain this number for future tracking).
Step 2: The applicant’s information will be inputted and processed as an initial claim. The applicant will then receive a Benefits Determination letter, which will let the applicant know how much compensation or benefit they are entitled. This will be based on the number of wages that have been reported by the applicant’s employer. If a person has no wages recorded or is self-employed, the applicant will be deemed ineligible for the regular unemployment claim. When no wages are confirmed, a second determination letter is transmitted to inform on the regular unemployment benefits approval or denial. However, if a person’s record shows they do not have wages that should have been reported; the applicant can demonstrate this by submitting a W-2 or 1099 or another wage-based tax document.
Step 3: Claimants that are not eligible to receive regular unemployment benefits receive notification by mail to include a paper application with the option to apply for PUA.
Step 4: Claimants must complete the paper PUA application and submit for processing via delivering to dropbox at the Department of Labor, or via mail along with the most recent tax return, and/or employment and wage documentation for Tax Year January 1 to December 31, 2019. To be deemed eligible for PUA claimants must certify (request payment) for all eligible weeks since the closing of their business due to COVID-19. A Claimant will receive written confirmation in the form of a determination letter of the amount that they are eligible for under the PUA program in the mail.
Step 5: If the Claimant would like to receive more than the minimum under PUA. They must submit additional documentation within twenty-one (21) days. A claimant’s amount can be increased or decreased after twenty (21) days. To continue receiving any benefit, a claimant must continue to certify that are affected by at least one (1) of the ten (10) COVID-19 related reasons.
Individuals who may be eligible for PUA must be determined that they are NOT eligible for regular unemployment benefits before being evaluated for PUA benefits. If a claimant receives at least one dollar in PUA benefits, they will be eligible for the weekly $600 supplement or Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) that will be retroactively paid from the implemented date of April 4, 2020.
Reminder: claimants must show proof of contract labor wages or other self-employment earnings if they wish to receive more than the minimum.
Acceptable Proof of Wages/Income Used for PUA Claims:
Proof of wages/income for the most recently completed Tax Year January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019.
Employees or 1099 independent contractors can send copies of pay stubs, earnings statements, IRS Form W-2 or IRS Form 1099 and federal income tax Form 1040 and Schedule C, F, or SE.
The self-employed can send IRS Form 1040 and a copy of Schedule 1, 2, C, F, or SE tax return.
Individuals who have already filed a claim with the VIDOL and have been determined not eligible for regular unemployment benefits but may be potentially eligible to receive benefits under the PUA program, do NOT have to refile a claim. These individuals will be identified and will receive notification by mail to include the paper PUA application to be completed and returned via dropbox or mail.
Please note:
PUA benefits like regular unemployment benefits are taxable. VIDOL recommends a claimant opt to have the taxes deducted before receiving benefits, to avoid a large tax liability at the end of their benefit period.
All statements to unemployment must be truthful, if a claimant provides false or misleading information, they may be determined to have committed fraud. This may lead to a person becoming permanently ineligible for benefits.
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will provide an additional 13 weeks of UI benefits, to individuals who have exhausted or ended regular unemployment compensation back to July 1, 2019, are potentially eligible. Therefore, if you have exhausted your benefits from July 1, 2019, forward you should submit an on-line application. Individuals who have already filed a claim are going to receive a determination letter to communicate which program they may qualify for.
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