What the PUA Documentation Requirement Message in Your Portal Means

ATTENTION PUA CLAIMANTS

April 26, 2021

All claimants received a message in their inbox on Friday, April 23, 2021, announcing the new documentation requirement for PUA. It was not targeted to individuals.  It was not based on what you do or do not have uploaded in your portal. It was based on changes made to the CARES Act in December 2020.

The message was unclear.

The law now requires that PUA claimants who are claiming weeks in 2021 provide documentation that establishes they were working, or had an offer of work, prior to the pandemic.  It does not affect eligibility for weeks already received for 2020.

In order to be eligible for weeks in the year 2021, PUA claimants must provide documentation of employment or self-employment prior to the pandemic.  

• If you first applied for PUA in 2020, then your document (paystubs, tax documents, contracts, business licenses, etc) must show some proof of work between January 2019 and when you applied for PUA.
• If you first applied for PUA in 2021, then your document (paystubs, tax documents, contracts, business licenses, etc) must show some proof of work between January 2020 and when you applied for PUA.

Many PUA claimants ALREADY have the necessary documentation (like 1099s, tax returns, paystubs, or offer letters) uploaded to their portal.  You only need one piece of documentation. You do not need to upload it again if it is still on your portal. 

This requirement does not affect PUA benefits for weeks in 2020.  It is only for benefits claimed in 2021.

Claimants have 90 days to provide the documentation.