If you are usually not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI), you may be qualified for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Under the federal CARES Act, you may be eligible for PUA if you are one of the following:

• Business owners.
• Self-employed workers.
• Independent contractors.
• People with a limited work history.
• People who have used all their regular UI benefits as well as any extended benefits.
• People who are serving false statement penalty weeks on their regular UI claim.

Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, there are up to 46 weeks of benefits available to eligible workers. This can be backdated to February 2, 2020 and will be available until December 31, 2020.

For more information on how to apply for PUA, visit UI Online.

Source: EDD