Don’t waste any time being unemployed, underemployed, or self-employed without income. Apply today and get on the list to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (aka, extra $$$ on top of unemployment compensation).
If you’re one of the more than 10 million unemployed – furloughed without pay – laid-off Americans, this post is for you.
Soft Disclaimer: This post is an interpretation of a new law, and is therefore still being actively updated to reflect changes, new interpretations, and specific ways the law is being implemented locally in Knoxville, TN. This post was originally written for and published on ameliabartlett.com – review the original post for updates and changes, as this edition for Blank Newspaper may not be updated as frequently. Feel free to hit play on the video below while digesting this information.
What you need to know about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
If you are already or recently (pandemic-related) unemployed or a self-employed person (entrepreneur, freelancer, artist, maker, performer, independent contractor, etc.), you may be eligible for up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits, with a possible additional $600 per week. This part is still contingent on your state of residency and whether they have arranged an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, so track your state’s unemployment status carefully.
About that up to $600 additional per week, from the Department of Labor website:
Depending on how your state chooses to implement the CARES Act. The new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC [unemployment compensation]… This benefit is available for weeks of unemployment beginning after the date on which your state entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor and ending with weeks of unemployment ending on or before July 31, 2020.
This means that the states are in charge of when they get their act together and get with the program, when they implement the benefits in their state, and how they determine eligibility and compensation amounts from these funds. For my TN readers, stay up to date with our State Department’s progress by following them on Twitter. For readers in other states, look for your State Dept. on Twitter.
Download the Quick Start guide for Unemployment, published April 8, 2020.
How to apply for Unemployment Compensation in Tennessee:
Check your eligibility.
Complete the Online Application.
The process is estimated to take about 25 minutes, but after numerous errors, it can take close to two hours.
ONCE YOU KNOW YOUR LAST DATE OF WORK COMPENSATION/ONSITE ACTIVITIES, YOU CAN APPLY THE FOLLOWING DAY.
Note: you can also apply for unemployment if you are underemployed. Meaning, your hours and earnings were reduced due to company decisions regarding COVID-19 response. There will be questions within the application that allow you answer that you are still employed, you are experiencing reduced hours, and there will be a place to write our your employment details to build this case.
Specifics for applying for unemployment as a Self-Employed Worker or Entrepreneur:
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You must prove you’ve been actively seeking work. Your state will outline this on their application page (via the state department website). Collect your evidence and maintain the “search” for a job. Here’s the TN link for my local readers.
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Show your past income through 1099s or another financial tracking method, like an excel spreadsheet.
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Be prepared to pay this back if your case isn’t strong and the government investigates.
Though the CARES act was signed into law on March 27, 2020, Tennessee does not expect to roll-out its subsequent benefits until the second week of April, vaguely described by Governor Lee.
Once Tennessee finalizes its agreement with the Department of Labor, we can expect to see up to a $600 increase in weekly unemployment compensation, though specifics as to how the final number per applicant will be calculated has not been made clear. From the Department of Labor:
Depending on how your state chooses to implement the CARES Act. The new law creates the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are collecting regular UC (unemployment compensation)…
So, start by applying for traditional Unemployment through your State Department’s website (which for TN is jobs4tn.gov) and as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits are rolled out in TN, those whose unemployment (or underemployment) are entitled to some or all of the additional $600 per month benefit without any additional action (that we know of at this time).
Don’t wait. There are billions of dollars available in funding and also millions of small businesses that will apply.
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Re-hire your staff and do not cut payroll expenses by more than 25%.
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Get your financials straight by organizing 1099s, an Excel spreadsheet, and/or other documentation through Quickbooks or WAVE App.
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Apply for PPP funding if you have been impacted, even if you are a sole proprietor.
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Apply for EIDL funding if your ability to do business and maintain payroll is directly impacted by the national disaster (pandemic).
