SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Officials with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) say they will be expediting unemployment payments to millions of citizens after receiving guidance from the US Labor Department. That means some people could start seeing a $300 supplemental payment as early as Sunday, January 3.
According to a press release from EDD, those who had their CARES Act benefits expire on Dec. 26 will soon be notified through their UI Online account, through the mail, or by a text message, when they will be able to certify their next payment. Federal unemployment benefits have been extended through March 13.
“EDD will automatically recalculate Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) claims,” the press release read.
According to EDD, the following changes can be expected for weeks starting December 27 through the week ending March 13: :
- A supplemental $300 a week - Known as Pandemic Additional Compensation in California, the additional $300 will be added to up to 11 weeks of unemployment benefits a claimant receives. Those on a regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) or FED-ED extension claim who are scheduled to submit their bi-weekly certification including the week ending January 2 will be the first to see the extra $300 PAC payments added to their benefits as early as this Sunday, January 3. That includes an estimated 1.3 million Californians. Adding the $300 for PUA and PEUC claims will follow as soon as the revised programming is in place.
- 11 weeks added to PUA - The PUA program supports business owners, the self-employed, independent contractors and others who don’t qualify for regular UI and will now offer a total of up to 57 weeks of benefits. A total of 1.4 Californians have collected PUA benefits over the last four weeks. Those who had a balance remaining on their claim come December 26 will continue on with that claim and then transition to the additional up to 11 benefits as long as they remain eligible. Those who had a PUA claim expire before the week ending December 26 won’t be eligible for the new benefits until weeks beginning December 27.
- 11 weeks added to PEUC – This extension program available once someone runs out of their up to 26 weeks of regular UI benefits can now provide a total of up to 24 weeks of benefits for those who remain eligible. Approximately 1.5 million Californians have collected PEUC benefits over the last four weeks. Just like with PUA, the new 11 weeks of PEUC benefits can only be paid for weeks beginning December 27.
- FED-ED Extension remains up to 20 weeks of benefits – Instead of dropping down to a maximum of 13 weeks, the continued federal funding allows the FED-ED to continue providing up to 20 weeks of benefits when claimants run out of PEUC benefits.
EDD said it is still waiting on guidance about other provisions in the relief bill.
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