Unemployed state residents will get an extra $300 in benefits starting next week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday.
The extended and expanded federal unemployment benefits next week were expected to expire as of the new year until Congress approved the extension as part of a federal spending and stimulus bill.
Included in the extension are Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which provides benefits for those not covered by traditional state unemployment insurance; Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provides additional weeks of benefits after an individual exhausts the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance; and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides all recipients an additional $300 weekly.
“This pandemic has created an unprecedented economic crisis, and New Yorkers have waited in uncertainty for far too long. I have repeatedly called on the federal government to do the right thing by renewing critical benefits to support millions of unemployed families through to the end of this pandemic – and now that Washington has finally acted, New York is immediately delivering those funds,” Cuomo said.
Recipients should continue to certify for unemployment benefits as they have been to automatically receive the extended benefits. Those whose unemployment benefit year has ended should reapply online.
Details on how New York will implement these extensions follows:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – New Yorkers can now receive up to 57 weeks of PUA benefits, with the program extended from the week ending Jan. 3 through March 14. New Yorkers receiving PUA should continue to certify as usual and will continue to receive their benefits. Additional eligibility documentation will be required beginning Jan. 31. The Department of Labor will contact claimants who need to provide additional documentation.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation – New Yorkers can now receive up to 24 weeks of PEUC (up from the 13 weeks originally authorized in the spring) with the program extended through March 14, 2021. New Yorkers who have exhausted the 26 weeks of state unemployment insurance should continue to certify as normal and will automatically receive up to 24 weeks of PEUC. Individuals who previously exhausted the original 13 weeks of PEUC and transitioned to the Extended Benefits program will begin receiving extended PEUC benefits after they exhaust their EB benefits. The Department of Labor will automatically handle these program transfers.
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation – FPUC benefits will resume the week ending Jan. 3, and will last for 11 weeks. During that time, all New Yorkers who are receiving unemployment benefits — including traditional state UI, Shared Work Benefits, PEUC, EB, or PUA — will receive an additional $300 payment per week. Per federal guidelines, FPUC benefits will not be backdated, and can only be provided starting the week ending Jan. 3.