For Immediate Release
January 6, 2021
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
$300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation added to eligible claims starting next week
Weekly certifications to resume Sunday for PEUC and PUA claimants with an existing balance
(Albuquerque, NM) – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) will start paying some unemployment benefits that are part of the Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020 included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
“Governor Lujan Grisham’s Administration understands how hard this situation is right now, and staff at the Department of Workforce Solutions are doing everything we can to stand programs up and get money in to people’s pockets during this really difficult time,” said Bill McCamley, Secretary of Workforce Solutions. “Please keep supporting each other, and know that there is a light at the end of this tunnel for all of us.”
Starting with week ending January 2, 2021, claimants who are eligible to receive at least $1 on an unemployment program will also receive an additional $300 on top of their weekly benefit amount. The federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program will be provided to eligible claimants weekly until the program end date of March 13, 2021.
For those claimants who received a weekly benefit payment for week ending December 26 from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program or the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program with funds still available in their claim, may start certifying for benefits again this Sunday, January 10, 2021.
If a claimant exhausted benefits before December 26, they must wait for additional information regarding the continuation of benefits through provisions listed in HR 133. The U.S. Department of Labor has not issued its final guidance for the implementation of every aspect of Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020.
Next steps for claimants depending on their program are as follows:
Standard Unemployment (STUI) Continue certifying weekly as normal. If you are eligible for benefits for the weeks starting December 27 and January 3, you will receive the additional $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments for each of those weeks starting January 10, and each eligible week moving forward until the FPUC program ends on March 13.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) If you have a remaining benefit balance, you will be able to start certifying for benefits again this Sunday, January 10. Certification weeks will include December 27 and January 3. If eligible, you will receive the additional $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments for each of those weeks starting January 10, and each eligible week moving forward until the FPUC program ends on March 13.
If you have exhausted other benefits and have a $0 balance, the department is waiting for guidance and funding from USDOL. There is nothing more for you to do at this time. The department will provide further information on next steps as soon as it is available.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) If you have a remaining benefit balance, you will be able to start certifying for benefits again this Sunday, January 10. Certification weeks will include December 27 and January 3. If eligible, you will receive the additional $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments for each of those weeks starting January 10, and each eligible week moving forward until the FPUC program ends on March 13.
If you exhausted your benefits and have a $0 balance, the department is waiting for guidance and funding from USDOL and there is nothing more for you to do at this time. The department will provide further information on next steps as soon as it is available.
If you clicked on the link in the menu bar that said “Apply for Unemployment Benefits” and completed or started but did not complete the questions presented to you, this will not affect your future extended benefits.
Federal-State Extended Benefits (FDEB1) Continue certifying weekly as normal. If you are eligible for benefits the weeks starting December 27 and January 3, you will receive the additional $300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payments for each of those weeks starting January 10, and each eligible week moving forward until the FPUC program ends on March 13.
If you exhausted your benefits and have a $0 balance, the department is waiting for guidance and funding from USDOL and there is nothing more for you to do at this time. The department will provide further information on next steps as soon as it is available.
If you were previously on PEUC and had a remaining balance but were moved to FDEB1 after the PEUC program ended on December 26, you will be placed back on PEUC to continue certifying with your remaining weeks available.
NMDWS has paid over $2.7 billion in state and federal benefits since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, which include regular unemployment, Federal-State Extended Benefits, Federally funded Lost Wages Assistance (LWA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).
To allow claimants the opportunity to reach a Customer Service Agent in the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center regarding regular matters, the department asks that individuals not call to inquire about the federal extension at this time. The department will provide further information to claimants on our official website (www.dws.state.nm.us) and through all communication channels as soon as it is available.
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