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CARES Act

April 2, 2020: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces New CARES Act Guidance on Unemployment Insurance for States in Response to COVID-19 Crisis | U.S. Department of Labor https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/eta/eta20200402-0

What You Need to Know and Do About the CARES Act – New York State Department of Labor

The federal CARES Act was signed into law March 27, 2020. The Act provides enhanced Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for New Yorkers. Here’s what you need to know.

You may download this information (PDF).


If You Are Already Approved for UI Benefits:

What you should do:

  • Do nothing except continue to certify weekly. Your benefits will be updated automatically.
    (Please do not call; it will only make it difficult for others to reach an agent.)

What you may qualify to receive:

  • 39 weeks of UI benefits.
  • An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
    (Payments begin 4/5/2020)

If You Are Filing a New UI Claim:

What you should do:

What you may qualify to receive:

  • 39 weeks of UI benefits.
  • An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
    (Payments begin 4/5/2020)

If You Are Not Traditionally Eligible for UI Benefits:

What you should do:

What you may qualify to receive:

  • 39 weeks of PUA benefits.
  • An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
    (Payments begin 4/5/2020)

If You’ve Exhausted 26 Weeks of Benefits After 7/1/2019:

What you should do:

What you may qualify to receive:

  • 13 weeks of benefits.
  • An additional $600/week until 7/31/2020.
    (Payments begin 4/5/2020)

More Information:

See Frequently Asked Questions About UI During the Coronavirus Emergency