Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

June 30, 2021

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) was a program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 that provides an extension to regular Unemployment Insurance benefits. This extension added 13 weeks of benefits to a regular claim for those that are UI eligible. Effective June 27, 2021, the state of Georgia is no longer participating in the PEUC program. The last payable week ending date for PEUC benefits was June 26, 2021.

Who is eligible for PEUC?

You are eligible for PEUC if:

  • You are unemployed for weeks within the time frame of March 29 through December 26, 2020;
  • You exhausted your regular state or federal benefits after July 1, 2019;
  • You are not currently eligible for state or federal unemployment benefits; and
  • You are able and available to work.

PEUC Payments

Benefit Amount:  Your weekly benefit amount is the same as your regular unemployment claim.

Duration of PEUC Benefits (an additional 13 weeks):

  • First Payable Week: Week ending April 4, 2020
  • Last Payable Week: Week ending December 26, 2020

How to Apply for PEUC

Options to apply:

  1. If a claimant has been receiving regular UI benefits and those benefits are exhausted, PEUC will automatically begin, and the claimant does not have to take any further action. The claimant will potentially receive 13 additional weeks of eligibility and these weeks will show in the claimant’s My UI portal.
  2. If a claimant’s benefit year ends on or after July 1, 2019, the claimant will be required to file a regular UI claim.
  3. If a claimant exhausted regular state UI benefits on or after 2/2/2020 and have filed for PUA (regardless of payment status), the claimant will be transferred into PEUC automatically.  The claimant is not required to file a PEUC claim.  PEUC will be effective the first Sunday after the last PUA payment. The claimant will potentially receive 13 additional weeks of eligibility and these weeks will show in the claimant’s My UI portal.

How do I know if I have exhausted my benefits?

You have exhausted your benefits when: 
You have received the maximum benefit amount of regular UI  benefits available to you based on your employment during your base period.

Eligibility for standard Unemployment Insurance claimants who have exhausted benefits

  • Claimants who have exhausted their claim benefits with a benefit year end date on or after 7/1/2019 are potentially eligible for PEUC.
  • PEUC offers an additional 13 weeks of benefits to individuals at their former weekly benefit amount.
  • Eligible claimants receiving at least $1 in state UI benefits will also receive the weekly FPUC ($600) up until the week ending 7/25/2020.
  • The first week a claimant can be eligible for PEUC is the week ending 4/4/2020 and the last payable week is the week ending 12/26/2020.
  • If a claimant has been receiving regular UI benefits and those benefits are exhausted, PEUC will automatically begin, and the claimant does not have to take any further action.
  • If the UI claim has expired (the benefit year has ended), a claimant must file a new regular UI claim.
  • PEUC is 100% federally funded. PEUC payments are subject to state and federal taxes, as well as overpayment recovery/child support deductions, and the claimant’s tax withholding preference will be applied.
  • If you claimed weeks with a zero balance, once the extension is filed, your claim will cover all past weeks of zero balance for all eligible weeks back to week ending date of April 4, 2020, unless you were already paid on another state or federal UI program.
  • Claimants are potentially eligible for PEUC if they do not qualify for a claim in another state or through another federal unemployment program.
  • Claimants are potentially eligible for PEUC if they meet one of the eligibility requirements of state law.

Claimants who have exhausted their regular UI and filed for PUA prior to PEUC implementation

  • Claimants who had been receiving PUA benefits will be switched to PEUC, thus extending eligibility on an exhausted regular claim.
  • If a claimant’s PUA benefit rate was lower than their regular UI benefit rate, they cannot receive the difference through PEUC. PUA and PEUC are two completely separate programs.
  • Claimants should immediately stop certifying for benefits through PUA and start requesting benefits on the regular UI claim using the Claim Weekly UI Benefits Payment.

A claimant is NOT eligible for PEUC if:

  • You are eligible for a regular unemployment insurance claim.
  • Your most recent valid claim expired prior to July 1, 2019.
  • You qualify for a claim in another state or through another federal program.
  • You have been determined by GDOL to be unemployed through fault of your own.

Fraud Warning

  • Quitting work without good cause to obtain Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits is fraud.
  • You may be prosecuted if you knowingly make a false statement or fail to disclose information to receive PEUC benefits.
  • Claimants must report gross earnings if you are working or if you are separated/employment status changes.

PEUC Claims