Title: Unemployment Eligibility Expanded Under CARES Act - CEDR
Headings: Unemployment Eligibility Expanded Drastically Under the CARES Act
Unemployment Eligibility Expanded Drastically Under the CARES Act
Expanded Unemployment Benefits under the CARES Act are not guaranteed and may differ based on your state.
Everyone and their mother is now eligible for unemployment benefits.
Business owner eligibility is unclear.
All employees who qualify for unemployment benefits will receive an additional $600 per week for the next few months.
All unemployment claims should be filed in your state.
Employees will not be able to refuse to come back to work because they would prefer to receive unemployment benefits.
The federal government is offering to reimburse states that set up “work share” programs.
The federal government is encouraging states to waive the one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits.
Employees should not wait in line to apply for benefits.
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Content: Unemployment Eligibility Expanded Under CARES Act - CEDR
April 7, 2020
Unemployment Eligibility Expanded Drastically Under the CARES Act
The federal government has passed the ‘third phase’ of emergency legislation, called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), in response to the present outbreak of coronavirus/COVID-19. You can read the law in its entirety here, but we’re providing general guidance and answering common questions about the sections of the law that are especially important to your business and employees below. This post will provide what you need to know about the expansion of unemployment benefit accessibility under the CARES Act. The federal unemployment expansion does two main things: Expands who can be eligible to receive unemployment benefits through the end of 2020; and
Provides an additional $600 per week in unemployment payments through July 31, 2020. Expanded Unemployment Benefits under the CARES Act are not guaranteed and may differ based on your state. We are aware that some states are denying claims that could now be approved under the CARES Act. It is likely due in part to the fact that unemployment claims have exploded over the past couple of weeks and the states are overwhelmed. Another reason for this is that while the CARES Act permits significant flexibility for states to amend their laws to provide expanded unemployment insurance benefits in multiple scenarios related to COVID-19, it does not require it.