PUA for Self-Employed

Overview

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance by Specific Need

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides unemployment benefits to individuals who became unemployed because of COVID-19 and are not eligible for regular benefits, including self-employed workers. The individual must be unemployed; PUA is not a wage replacement program for workers who are still working full time but have had earnings reduced. The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) - $600 increase - applies to pandemic unemployment assistance benefits, effective March 29, 2020.

The types of employment that PUA covers are:

  • Self-employed workers
  • Independent contractors
  • Gig economy workers

How to Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Step 1:  Apply for Unemployment Benefits

  • You must apply for unemployment insurance. If you have not already done so, file online at: idaho.gov/claimantportal
  • Idaho Department of Labor will determine if you are eligible for regular unemployment benefits.
  • You will receive a letter in the mail explaining your monetary entitlement. This determination will explain if you have enough wages reported in Idaho to qualify for a regular unemployment insurance claim.
  • If you are monetarily ineligible or pending for regular unemployment, you may be eligible for PUA.

Step 2: Continue to submit your weekly certifications

  • You must continue to file your weekly claim application at labor.idaho.gov/claimantportal while you are monetarily pending or monetarily ineligible.
  • If it has been determined that you are eligible for PUA, you will be paid the minimum weekly payment of $168 per week for eligible week(s) claimed while your issue was pending, even if you have returned to work.

Step 3: Submit Proof of 2019 Earnings

Gather your proof of income for 2019. Your wage history needs to be established with any of the following documents:

  • 2019 1099
  • 2019 W-2
  • 2019 Pay stubs
  • Bank receipts showing deposits

Submit your proof of income using one of the following methods:

  • Upload online to the Claimant Portal
  • Fax to: (208) 780-5130
  • Mail to:
    Idaho Department of Labor ATTN PUA
    317 Main St
    Boise ID 83735-0770

If you upload to Claimant Portal, the file size limit is 5 MB. File types allowed are: pdf, xps, doc, docx, odf, xls, xlsx, csv, ods, jpg, png, tif, txt, rtf, qbv, qbf, qbb, qbw, qbm, qbx.

Step 4: Application Review

  • Department staff will review your proof of income and issue a determination letter to you. If additional information is needed or if you have not provided sufficient documentation, you will be contacted by phone or email. No additional action is necessary after you supply your proof of earnings unless we contact you directly.
  • When your proof of income is reviewed and approved, you will be sent a monetary redetermination. If you were already receiving the minimum weekly benefit amount of $168, and your benefit amount increases, you will be issued a supplemental payment for weeks paid at the minimum weekly benefit amount. You must continue to file your weekly claim application.

Payment Details:

  • Payment amount:
    • Minimum payment amount for individuals will be $168 per week.
    • Maximum payment will be $448 per week.
    • Provides up to 39 weeks of benefits total.
  • First payments will occur in mid-May.
  • First payable week: Retroactive to Feb. 2, 2020, or the first week an individual is out of work due to COVID-19, whichever is later.
  • Last payable week:  Week ending Dec. 26, 2020
  • Must have a monetarily eligible state claim that has exhausted benefits or have some work history in the past 18 months. This includes those who were scheduled to start a job and couldn't due to COVID-19 and those claimants who are currently ineligible due to a separation issue on their claim.

Fraud Warning

  • If you knowingly make a false statement or fail to disclose information in an attempt to receive PUA benefits you are not entitled to, you are committing fraud. Fraud results in a disqualification from benefits, an overpayment of benefits, penalties and potential criminal prosecution. Discontinue your weekly reports when you return to full-time employment.

Individual Eligibility

To be eligible for benefits under PUA, an individual:

  • Must be ineligible for regular unemployment benefits, including: Unemployment for Federal Employees (UCFE), Unemployment for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), Alternate Base Period benefits, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB);
  • Must have exhausted other forms of unemployment insurance listed above (if applicable); OR
  • Must have been self-employed and not eligible for one of the forms of unemployment insurance listed above; OR
  • Must have been scheduled to begin work for an employer and not be eligible for one of the forms of unemployment insurance listed above; OR
  • Must have been scheduled to begin self-employment and not be eligible for one of the forms of unemployment insurance listed above; AND
  • Must not qualify for an unemployment insurance claim in another state or U.S. territory; AND
  • Must be fully or partially unemployed for one of the qualifying COVID-19 reasons listed below

Qualifying COVID-19 Reasons

To be eligible for PUA, an individual must be unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to one of the COVID-19 related reasons listed below:

  • The individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
  • A member of the individual’s household has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • The individual is providing care for a family member or a member of the individual’s household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
  • A child or other person in the household for which the individual has primary caregiving responsibility is unable to attend school or another facility that is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency and such school or facility care is required for the individual to work;
  • The individual is unable to reach their place of employment because of a quarantine imposed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
  • The individual is unable to reach their place of employment because the individual has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
  • The individual was scheduled to begin employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency;
  • The individual has become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of household has died as a direct result of COVID-19;
  • The individual has to quit their job as a direct result of COVID 19; or
  • The individual’s place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 public health emergency

Those Not Eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Include an Individual:

  • Who has the ability to telework with pay and would still be working substantially the same number of hours and be receiving the same pay.
  • Who is receiving paid sick leave or other paid leave benefits and those benefits would exceed their weekly amount of PUA.
  • Who is eligible for another state or federal unemployment program including unemployment insurance (UI), Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE), Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Extended Benefits (EB), and Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA).

Payment Protection Program

  • An individual receiving their regular full-time pay under the PPP is fully employed and not eligible for benefits.
  • A claimant who has stopped receiving PPP could be eligible for benefits if they are still unemployed.