LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Labor reminds workers that unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act are set to expire December 26, 2020, according to federal program guidelines. Absent Congressional action, programs ending December 26 include PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) and PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation).

PUA provides benefits to those who would not normally qualify for regular unemployment benefits, such as the self-employed, gig workers, part-time workers, etc. PUA also provides benefits to those who exhausted all other unemployment programs but remain unemployed due to a pandemic related reason. PEUC provides for an additional 13-week extension to regular unemployment compensation recipients.  Workers filing under these programs will be able to file a weekly claim the week of December 27 to claim benefits for the week ending the 26th. 

When the programs expire, all payments under PUA and PEUC will stop, regardless of an existing dollar balance or remaining eligible weeks. Some claimants may see their benefits end prior to the December 26 expiration date due to exhausting all programs. Based upon the number of weeks paid, approximately 7,400 individuals were paid either PUA or PEUC benefits for the week ending November 28.

Individuals can go to their claim summary in NEworks.nebraska.gov to view the date their benefits are scheduled to end.  Claimants with a benefit year beginning in 2020 and ending in 2020 fall under the CARES Act programs that are expiring. Individuals with benefit years beginning in 2019, or ending in 2021, fall under regular unemployment insurance benefits, which are not impacted by the December 26 expiration date.

If new federal benefit programs become available, notification will be issued in NEworks.nebraska.gov. Free reemployment services are available at local job centers, including résumé assistance, education and vocational training assistance, and more. For a listing of job centers, please visit dol.nebraska.gov. To view available jobs online, visit NEworks.

NDOL news releases are available online at dol.nebraska.gov/PressRelease.