The
Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) is awaiting guidance from the
U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to distribute additional stimulus unemployment
funds and implement program extensions and changes passed under the federal
Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020
.
In
general, the bill extends stimulus Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs passed
under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These
emergency programs are intended to assist those who have become unemployed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below are
the major programs that Montana will implement, or extend, once additional
federal guidance is received:
- The
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which provides
unemployment benefits to the self-employed and others affected by COVID-19
will remain active until UI week ending March 13, 2021, with final
payments on continued claims ending April 10, 2021. Claimants will have up
to 50 weeks of eligibility.
- The
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program will be
reinstated the UI week ending January 2, 2021, adding an additional $300
weekly benefit through the UI week ending March 13, 2021.
- Extending
the
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program,
providing an additional 11 weeks, for up to 24 total weeks in additional
benefits for those who have exhausted their UI claims. Initial claims will
be accepted through March 13, 2021, with final payments on continued
claims ending April 10, 2021.
Additional
claimant guidance on the stimulus package and what it means for Montanans
filing for UI can be found here:
http://dli.mt.gov/Portals/57/Documents/covid-19/continuedassistance.pdf
The Department will announce by
press release, on dli.mt.gov and social media when the first payments under the
Act will be issued. DLI will also send emails to current claimants informing
them of program changes.
DLI continues to encourage anyone
who believes they may be eligible for UI to file a claim online at
MontanaWorks.gov, or at mtpua.mt.gov for those that fall under the
PUA eligibility guidelines. Those with technical,
eligibility, or benefits questions are encouraged to view the COVID-19 resource
website at
dli.mt.gov/covid-19. A variety of information for both Montana workers
and employers are available, in addition to resources to help claimants
navigate the unemployment process.