We recognize the rapid changes happening on the federal, state and local levels as it pertains to the guidelines and navigation of Covid-19. As we receive pertinent information that may be related to your businesses and livelihood, we will do our best to shift this information back to you. This week we would like to share information from the governor’s office as it relates to the expiration and termination of unemployment benefits:

On September 5, 2021, several federal unemployment benefit programs will expire across the country, per federal law. The federal benefit programs that will expire are:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): PUA provides unemployment benefits to individuals who are not typically eligible for UC, such as gig workers and self-employed individuals. Individuals on the PUA program will cease to receive payments for weeks of unemployment after Sept. 4 unless they become eligible for the UC program.

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): PEUC provided additional weeks to individuals enrolled in the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program. When PEUC ends Sept. 4, UC will revert to providing up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. Individuals who have exhausted their 26 weeks of UC benefits will cease to receive benefit payments for weeks of unemployment after Sept. 4 under that claim.

• $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): FPUC provides an additional $300 per week to individuals who are receiving at least $1 in other unemployment program benefits. For weeks of unemployment after Sept. 4, individuals will no longer receive the additional $300 per week and solely receive the benefit payment they are eligible for under UC.

• $100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC): MEUC provides $100 in extra benefits to individuals with at least $5,000 in net income from self-employment. For weeks of unemployment after Sept. 4, individuals will no longer receive the additional $100 per week and solely receive the benefit payment they are eligible for under UC.

Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits will continue to be paid to eligible claimants. To be considered eligible for UC after September 4, 2021, a claimant must be unemployed and a claimant must be unemployed AND be eligible under the applicable provisions of the PA UC Law. The PA Department of Labor & Industry will still review eligibility for federal benefits for weeks of unemployment on or before September 4, 2021, once the federal programs expire. Claimants should always certify for weeks they are seeking and if due benefits, claimants will be paid once determined to be eligible.