PUA is the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program originated in the CARES Act. The program is available to self employed and Independent Contractors who were unemployed beginning Feb. 2, 2020 through Dec. 26, 2020. It provides a benefit between $117 to $240 per week for up to 39 weeks. Recipients will receive an additional $600 per week from March 29, 2020 to July 25, 2020.
Increasingly I am receiving phone calls and emails from members attempting to apply for Unemployment Insurance. The frustration seems to come from two elements:
- Filing the initial claim
- Receiving funds
As of June 6th, the Arizona Department of Economic Security has the application up on its website along with a helpful handbook. They also produced the video below.
Make sure you apply every week to maintain your eligibility and if you apply and don’t get a file number within a week, apply again. As to when will you see your first check? Members are telling me 3-4 weeks after their claim is accepted.