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Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

a document reads "Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation"; a bag with the dollar symbol; a keyboard key reads "compensation"

Announcements

  • On September 6, 2021, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program is scheduled to expire. The final payable week is the benefit week ending September 4, 2021. The deadline for filing weekly claims online for PEUC is September 17, 2021, after which claimants must contact the UI Call Center at (877) 600-2722 for assistance filing a claim.
  • PEUC claimants who have exhausted or are near exhaustion should not immediately apply for Extended Benefits (EB), as PEUC extension implementation is currently in progress following the signing of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. These claimants should continue to file weekly certifications for PEUC.

Applying for PEUC

Log into the initial UI claims application with your existing credentials to get started on your PEUC application.

File a PEUC Claim

Attention PEUC claimants: The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed on March 11, 2021, increasing the maximum benefit amount for PEUC to 53 times an individual's average weekly benefit amount. PEUC claimants should continue filing weekly certifications if they remain unemployed. No applications for Extended Benefits should be filed at this time.

Overview

On March 11, 2021, the President signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) which extends some federal unemployment programs authorized by the CARES Act, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

PEUC has been extended by 29 weeks, and now provides a maximum of 53 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to eligible individuals. Claimants may continue to receive PEUC through benefit week ending September 4, 2021, or until their benefits are exhausted, whichever comes first.

Claimants who exhausted PEUC and are already receiving Extended Benefits (EB) must exhaust EB before returning to PEUC.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a week of PEUC, in addition to meeting the applicable Arizona state law provisions, you must:

  • have exhausted all rights to regular compensation under the applicable state or Federal law with respect to the applicable benefit year;
  • have no rights to regular compensation with respect to a week under such law or any other state or Federal UC law;
  • certify that you are not receiving compensation with respect to such week under the UC law of Canada; and
  • be able to work, available for work, and actively seeking work (the actively seeking work requirement has been temporarily suspended in Arizona)

You must wait for your regular unemployment benefits to expire before applying for PEUC.

Next Steps

If your regular UI benefits have expired and you wish to apply for PEUC, you can do so at www.azui.com. Login using the same credentials you used to file your regular UI claim, then proceed to the initial UI claim section to file your claim. If you are unable to file online, call the UI Call Center toll free at 1-877-600-2722 or TDD: 7-1-1. The Department will notify you when you are able to file your retroactive and ongoing weekly claims for PEUC benefits. 

FAQs

What is Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)?

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a new temporary federal program called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which was extended by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). PEUC provides up to 53 weeks of additional unemployment benefits to individuals who previously collected state or federal unemployment insurance benefits (UI) but exhausted those benefits.

Who is eligible for PEUC?

You are eligible for PEUC if:

  • You are unemployed for weeks within the time frame of March 29, 2020 through benefit week ending September 4, 2021;
  • You exhausted your regular state or federal unemployment benefits after July 1, 2019;
  • You are not currently eligible for state or federal unemployment benefits; and
  • You are able and available to work and are actively seeking work. *Please note that on March, 20, 2020, Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order that temporarily suspended Arizona’s work search requirements.

You are not eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) if you are eligible for PEUC.
 

How do I know if I have exhausted my benefits?

You have exhausted your benefits when:

  1. You are not eligible for regular UI benefits because you have received the maximum number of weeks of benefits available to you based on your employment during your base period; OR
  2. Your benefit year ended on or after July 1, 2019.

You can check the status of your remaining benefit amount by logging into your claim at www.azui.com or by following the prompts on our automated phone system 1-877-600-2722.

When Can I apply for PEUC

Once you receive your final payment of state or federal unemployment insurance (UI), you will receive a notice of eligibility for the PEUC program. If you still meet the criteria for unemployment benefits, you may apply for PEUC.

How do I apply for PEUC?

If your regular UI benefits have expired and you wish to apply for PEUC, you can do so at www.azui.com. Login then proceed to the initial UI claim section and use the same credentials you used to file your regular UI claim. If you are unable to file online, call the UI Call Center toll free at 1-877-600-2722 or TDD: 7-1-1.

How do I file for past weeks and claim retroactive benefits?

To inquire about retroactive payments for PEUC, you must contact the UI Call Center toll free at 1-877-600-2722 or TDD: 7-1-1.

How much is the PEUC weekly benefit amount, and how long is it?

Your PEUC weekly benefit amount is the same as your regular UI weekly benefit amount (between $187 and $240). Your weekly benefit amount is based on your reported earnings during the base period (the first four of the last five completed quarters). You will also receive a supplemental $300 per week in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) for eligible weeks beginning the benefit week ending January 2, 2021 through the benefit week ending September 4, 2021.

I exhausted my benefits before July 6, 2019 and have not worked since then. Am I eligible for PEUC?

No. However, depending on when you last reported income, you may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits to those individuals who do not have enough wages in their base year to file a regular UI claim. Please visit our PUA FAQs to learn more.

How is PEUC paid?

PEUC is paid either by direct deposit or by Electronic Payment Card (EPC).

If you received UI benefits most recently by EPC, your PEUC payments will be made to your EPC. If you lost your EPC debit card, please contact Bank of America at 1 (855) 847-2030.

You can change how you receive your payment to direct deposit by completing the direct deposit form on the www.azui.com website. Direct deposit is the quickest way to receive benefits.

Extended Benefits

Extended Benefits (EB) provides up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits to eligible claimants who have exhausted both their regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) assistance.

Upon exhaustion of regular UI and the PEUC, DES will mail notices to individuals who are eligible to apply for EB. The claimants weekly benefit amount (WBA) under the EB program will be the same amount as the individual received for their regular UI benefits.

How much will I receive with EB? Will I still receive the extra $600?

Your weekly benefit amount (WBA) under the EB program will be the same amount you received for your regular UI benefits (between $184-$240 per week). The additional $300 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) will be applied to your EB funds until FPUC expires benefit week ending September 4, 2021 or until your benefits exhaust, whichever comes first.

What are my next steps in applying for EB?

If you might be eligible for EB, you will receive a notice from DES regarding your EB eligibility once your current benefits are exhausted. This will include instructions on how to apply for EB.

Is EB available to me if I live outside of Arizona?

If you are filing for Arizona EB while residing in another state, you may be eligible for no more than two weeks of EB if your state of residence hasn’t yet triggered EB. If your state has triggered EB, then you will be eligible for the full 13 weeks of EB.

Additional Resources

You may qualify for other benefits such as:

The extra $600 per week for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) is not counted against eligibility for some programs:
Program FPUC UI PUA
AHCCCS Medical Assistance Not Counted Counted Counted
Nutrition Assistance Counted Counted Counted
Cash Assistance Not Counted Not Counted Not Counted

 You can apply for one or more of these programs online at www.healthearizonaplus.gov. Find more contact details regarding Nutrition, Cash, and Medical Assistance Benefits

American Rescue Plan Act

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law. ARPA extends certain federal unemployment programs including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). These provisions will bring continued benefits to unemployed Arizonans.

Learn more about ARPA.

1099-G Tax Information

On January 28, 2021, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) began mailing 1099-G tax forms to claimants who received unemployment benefits in the state of Arizona in 2020.

Find more information regarding the 1099-G tax forms.

Benefit Year Ending

An individual's Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit year is the one-year period beginning with the first day of the first week they file a claim for unemployment. If an individual is collecting Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) when their UI benefit year ends, federal law requires that DES review their information to determine whether they are eligible to begin a new UI claim.

Learn more about Unemployment Benefit Year Ending (BYE)

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