Reader Question: I thought the minimum PUA was $182. Why am I getting less than that?
Now during Covid, there are two types of unemployment assistance: Regular unemployment (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). The minimum for PUA for New York is $182. The minimum for regular unemployment however is $104 a week. So if you are getting less than $182 a week (+$600) you are getting regular unemployment, not PUA.
PUA Is Easier To Get
The differences between regular unemployment and PUA are primarily in eligibility requirements, with much stricter requirements for regular unemployment. For example, regular unemployment requires a minimum amount earned to be eligible. PUA eligibility is based on any earnings or, in fact, no earnings at all! Check HomeUnemployed.com to read more about PUA vs regular unemployment.
So which one will I get?
The NYS DOL first checks if you are eligible for regular unemployment. If not, they enroll you in PUA.
Does it matter which one I get?
Although there are some key differences in eligibility between regular unemployment and PUA, once approved for either, for most people it doesn’t matter which one they are on. For both regular and PUA you are meant to get approximately 50% of your prior earned income up to a maximum of $504 a week, plus $600 a week for April-July 2020.
Why PUA might be better than Regular Unemployment
- For the person applying – Minimum Weekly Payments
- The minimum weekly PUA payment is $182, even if prior income is $0.
- The minimum weekly regular unemployment payment is $104. Regular unemployment is approximately 50% of prior earnings. If your prior earnings were between $200 and $362 a week, you will get between $104 and $181 a week.
- This is less than $182 a week, which is what PUA gives.
- If your prior earnings were less than $200 a week, you are not eligible for regular unemployment, as your unemployment payments would fall below the minimum of $104 a week. You would then qualify for PUA with a payment of $182 a week!
- It’s ironic that someone who didn’t earn any money at all gets more money than someone who did!
- Either way, you get the extra $600 a week for April-July 2020.
- For the Employer
- Generally speaking, when an employee collects unemployment, the employer incurs a financial cost.
- It is unclear to me if employers will incur a financial cost if an employee gets regular unemployment during Covid.
- If someone gets PUA, the employer should not incur any financial cost.
Getting onto PUA – Not Regular Unemployment
If you are eligible for PUA and don’t want to end up on regular unemployment, what can you do?
A few ideas that you can try:
- In the “new” comprehensive application, if you click that you are eligible due to one of the Covid-related reasons it should hopefully put you on PUA as opposed to regular unemployment.
- Alternatively, apply using the “old” application form and click that you quit your job. They would then ask you to complete a separate PUA application form.
- Back to the reader question above: If you already applied and are getting regular unemployment, technically there may be ways to get yourself switched over, including if the employer responds that you were not let go etc, but it may not be worthwhile to do so.
<<<Disclaimer: All the information here is an opinion, and not professional or legal advice.>>>
You might also be interested in:
- Am I on PUA or Regular Unemployment?
- Why am I getting only $182 a week?
- I think I should get more Unemployment
- I Never Worked. Am I Eligible for PUA?
For everything unemployment-related, read these links from HomeUnemployed.com.
- Overview – homeunemployed.com/unemployment
- Eligibility – homeunemployed.com/unemployment/eligibility
- How to Apply – homeunemployed.com/unemployment/How-to-Apply
- After You Apply – homeunemployed.com/unemployment/after-you-apply
- Certifying Weekly Benefits – homeunemployed.com/unemployment/certifying-weekly-benefits
- FAQ – https://www.homeunemployed.com/unemployment/faq