Federal Unemployment Benefits Available During COVID-19 Pandemic

Several federal programs have expanded EDD’s ability to provide unemployment insurance to out-of-work Californians. These federal benefits are available for specific weeks of unemployment. As long as a claimant’s weeks of unemployment fall within the period in which federal benefits are available – and the claimant meets eligibility requirements – they will be paid benefits for those weeks, even if the processing of benefits occurs at a later date.

Benefit Program Other Federal and CARES Act Continued American Rescue TOTAL State Legislation Assistance Act Plan Act Regular state Unemployment Up to 26 weeks of Up to 26 weeks of Insurance (UI) benefits in a 12-month benefits. benefit year. Pandemic Emergency Up to 13 weeks of Added 11 weeks of Added 29 weeks of Up to 53 weeks of Unemployment Compensation benefits for weeks benefits for weeks benefits for weeks benefits. (PEUC) extension of unemployment of unemployment of unemployment between March 29 between December between March 14 and December 26, 27, 2020 and March and September 4, 2020. 13, 2021. 2021. Federal-State Extension Up to 20 weeks of Up to 20 weeks of Duration (FED-ED) extension benefits for weeks benefits through (For people who used all their of unemployment August 7, 2021. unemployment benefits during a between May 20, 2020 period of high unemployment.) and August 7, 2021. Up to 13 weeks of benefits between Up to 13 weeks of August 8 and benefits between September 11, 2021. August 8, 2021 and September 11, 2021. Pandemic Unemployment Up to 46 weeks of Added 11 weeks of Added 29 weeks of Up to 86 weeks of Assistance (PUA) (For small benefits for weeks benefits for weeks benefits for weeks benefits. business owners, self-employed, of unemployment of unemployment of unemployment independent contractors, and between February 2 between December between March 14 others who don’t qualify for and December 26, 27, 2020 and March and September 4, regular UI and meet pandemic 2020. 13, 2021. 2021. eligibility requirements.) Federal Pandemic $600 additional $300 additional $300 additional Unemployment Compensation payment added payment added payment added (FPUC) (Also known to weekly benefits to weekly benefits to weekly benefits as Pandemic Additional for weeks of for weeks of for weeks of Compensation in California.) unemployment unemployment unemployment between April 4 and between December between March 14 July 31, 2020. 27, 2020 and March and September 4, 13, 2021. 2021. Lost Wages Assistance $300 additional payments payment added to weekly benefits for weeks of unemployment between July 26 and September 5, 2020, when authorized by December 27, 2020. Mixed Earner Unemployment $100 additional $100 additional Compensation (MEUC) (Pays payment added payment added an additional $100 per week in to weekly benefits to weekly benefits supplemental unemployment for weeks of for weeks of benefits to claimants who unemployment unemployment receive regular UI or extension between December between March 14 benefits and earned self- 27, 2020 and March and September 4, employment income in the year 13, 2021. 2021. before their claim.)

edd.ca.gov August 2021