The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) set up the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program beginning the week of April 26, 2020. This program may provide up to an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to those that have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits. The Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) under the PEUC program is the same as the claimant received for regular unemployment. The claimant may also receive an additional $600 per week through Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) until July 25, 2020.
There are two ways to apply for PEUC:
- Online by logging in to your account at www.jobs.state.nm.us. Click on the “Unemployment Insurance Benefits” umbrella icon to access the Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System. On your claimant homepage, click on “Apply for Extended Benefits”.
- By phone at 1-877-664-6984. The department continues to operate under extended hours for the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, 7:00am-5:00pm
Under federal law, beginning with the week of June 28, 2020, New Mexico has also set up the Federal-State Extended Benefits (FDEB1) Program offering up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits to individuals who have exhausted both their regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of PEUC benefits. Upon exhaustion of regular unemployment and PEUC, NMDWS will issue written notification to all individuals who are eligible to apply for the new FDEB1 program. The Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) under the FDEB1 program is the same as the individual received for regular unemployment.