Federal Unemployment Benefits May End Soon

Oct 28, 2020 at 03:12 pm by WGNS


(NASHVILLE)  Many Tennesseans currently receiving unemployment benefits through programs funded by the CARES Act could be nearing the end of their weekly payments. The last day to claim benefits through these federal programs is December 26, 2020. According to federal program rules, many claimants could see their benefits stop before that date if they reach the maximum number of allowable weeks.
 
The state of Tennessee currently provides unemployment benefits through four separate programs, two of which are new federal programs receive created under the CARES Act.

Under the CARES Act, claimants who began receiving benefits through the PUA program early in its inception will begin reaching the maximum 39 weeks of payments in the coming weeks. All PUA claimants will receive benefits only through December 26, 2020. The state encourages claimants to continue searching for work so they can secure employment before their benefits end. Once a claimant exhausts benefits on the PUA program, they are not eligible for any other unemployment program.
 
If the Department determines the eligibility of a claim after Dec. 26, if approved, the claimant will retroactively receive applicable payments for all weeks with a completed certification through the program’s ending date.
 
Claimants receiving extended benefits through PEUC need to keep in mind this program will stop after the week ending Dec. 26, 2020.
 
The EB program will end whenever USDOL determines Tennessee’s economic recovery has reached a threshold where the program is no longer needed. This has already taken place in several states.
 
The Reemploy Tennessee initiative makes many resources available to job seekers to help them make the transition back into the state’s workforce.
 
Jobs4TN.gov integrates Tennessee’s unemployment system with its workforce development system to streamline the process of finding work. The site’s database has over 200,000 current job openings and provides help with resume writing, job interview techniques, and other skills that will guide individuals through reemployment.
 
For one-on-one assistance, career specialists at Tennessee’s more than 80 American Job Centers can work with claimants to provide customized job searches, information on virtual job fairs, Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) appointments, and assistance determining if job training assistance is available
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