Federal Pandemic Benefits Programs Scheduled to End September 4, 2021
For Immediate Release
August 13, 2021
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
Federal Pandemic Benefits Programs Scheduled to End September 4, 2021
(Albuquerque, NM) – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) reminds New Mexicans that all COVID-19 related federal unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit programs as originally authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020, and extended through the Continued Assistance Act (CAA) of 2021 and American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, will end on September 4, 2021.
Federal programs ending regardless of account balance are the following:
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): the week ending September 4 is the last week of unemployment for which the additional $300 weekly payment for any claimant that is eligible for at least $1 of an underlying unemployment compensation program.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): The week ending September 4 is the last payable week for PUA benefits which provides benefits for claimants who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance, such as self-employed, contract workers and gig economy workers. For 30 days after this expiration, the Department will continue to take new applications so long as the period of unemployment benefits requested is before September 4.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and PEUC-A: The week ending September 4 is the last payable week for PEUC or PEUC-A which provides an extension of benefits after regular unemployment compensation benefits have been exhausted. For claimants currently on regular state UI benefits, they will not be eligible for this extension for weeks of full or partial unemployment ending after September 4.
- Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC): The week ending September 4 is the last week of unemployment for which the additional $100 weekly payment to certain claimants who have mixed earnings will be paid.
Claimants who are waiting to receive an eligibility determination for any of the four federal programs listed above, NMDWS will ensure that they receive benefit payments owed to them for all weeks prior to September 4 for which they have certified for and are determined eligible, even after the federal programs have ended.
“In the return to work transition for claimants, the Department of Workforce Solutions is here to support work search efforts and provide a tremendous amount of resources that connect job seekers with work opportunities," said Ricky Serna, Acting NMDWS Secretary. “Accessing the Ready NM website at https://www.Ready.nm.gov is a great first step claimants can take to find a job or training opportunity.”
NMDWS will continue to accept new PUA applications for 30 days after the program expires. NMDWS will backdate these new claims to the first eligible week during the Pandemic Assistance Period in accordance with all eligibility requirements. Payments on PUA claims filed during this 30-day period will be held until the claim is reviewed to confirm eligibility.
Once federal benefits have ended, New Mexico will revert to its former base period model, which determines whether unemployed claimants have earned enough wages to qualify for regular state UI benefits. Claimants currently receiving regular state unemployment may continue to receive benefits under that program, depending on eligibility requirements.
Free job services are available to all New Mexicans through the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System, https://www.jobs.state.nm.us and through Ready NM at https://www.ready.nm.gov. Providing job seekers with access to explore more than 100,000 job openings, learn about high-demand career fields, find career training and education programs near them, and access information about other resources such as scholarships and grants, childcare and adult education services. Representatives are also available by phone at 1-800-303-3599, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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