MEDIA ALERT: INFORMATION FOR PUA CLAIMANTS

Montpelier – Active Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants that are unable to file their weekly claim with the Vermont Department of Labor for the week ending December 26, 2020, are likely experiencing this because they have already received the maximum number of weeks through the program under the original CARES Act.

Extensions of CARES Act programs, including PUA, begin this week, or benefit week ending (BWE) January 2, 2021. Eligible PUA claimants who have exhausted their original benefits will be able to file for BWE January 2, 2021 once the program has been updated with the federal changes. The new CARES Act extension does not cover the BWE December 26, 2020 for PUA claimants who have already exhausted their benefits.

The Department has received inquiries of claimants who are unable to file as a result of exhausting benefits under the PUA program and is communicating directly with all claimants on necessary next steps as a result of CARES Act extension programs. 

For further information and updates on the Department of Labor’s response and recovery efforts as a result of COVID-19’s impact on Vermont workers and employers, please visit labor.vermont.gov/covid19.