PUA now accepting benefit claims from Gig workers, self-employed

Gig workers, freelancers and the self-employed in the state can now begin applying for claims for an extra $300 in weekly assistance.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry announced that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program of the federal CARES Act extension, or PUA, is now accepting claims for those who don’t meet the requirements for traditional unemployment compensation, but have lost work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that more than 400,000 Pennsylvanians and their families are relying on these PUA benefits to get through this terrible pandemic and have worked as quickly as possible to complete the implementation and resume payments,” said Acting Secretary Jennifer Berrier.

Those who have already been approved for and receiving benefits can now begin filing claims for an additional 11 weeks, following the same process used previously.

Claimants will be able to file for the weeks of January 2, 9, 16 and 23.

Claims must be filed by Jan. 29.

New claimants are not yet eligible to apply for the extended benefits as the state is still adding 2020 as a base wage year into the system. They will be notified when they can file a claim.

L&I said it is currently in the final stages of implementing the PEUC extension.

The original CARES Act programs, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation expired the end of December 2020.