Reader Question: I never worked. I want to work now but cannot due to Covid-19. Am I eligible for PUA?

The short answer:

Yes, you should be eligible if you meet the rest of the criteria for PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance).

In short, if you have a job that you were going to start, but couldn’t start due to Covid-19, you are likely eligible. This doesn’t mean that you will be approved by your state, as every state may interpret the federal guidelines differently, but I don’t see any reason why you should not be eligible. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll get declined.

The long answer:

In order to be eligible for regular unemployment insurance, you do need to have worked in the previous 18 months. However, PUA eligibility does not include the requirement to have work history. There is nothing that I saw in the CARES Act that would require a work history in order to be eligible.  Click here to see the relevant section in the CARES Act.

If someone is not eligible for regular unemployment and they cannot work now because of any one of 11 Covid-related reasons, that person is eligible for PUA. (Pertinent wording from the CARES Act: “…an individual who is otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable State law, except the individual is unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because…”)

In other words, as long as you are not currently employed due to one of the 11 valid reasons, then you should be eligible irrespective of your prior employment or lack thereof. 

One of the valid covid-related reasons for not working is “the individual was scheduled to commence employment and does not have a job or is unable to reach the job as a direct result of the COVID–19 public health emergency”

Federal vs. State
PUA is part of CARES Act from the federal government. As Unemployment is run by the states, each state provides their own guidance and may interpret things slightly differently.

Pennsylvania’s website says clearly that someone who has never worked can apply. New York’s website also implies the same  “Those scheduled to commence new employment that cannot reach their workplace as a direct result of COVID-19” are eligible for PUA.

I haven’t seen it spelled out whether someone who has no work history and is eligible for PUA based on another Covid-related reason (e.g. primary caregiver) is also eligible. I don’t see any reason why that person won’t be eligible as well, though I don’t know how the states will deal with that scenario.

Issue with Application
As previously mentioned, the application in NY has an issue: When trying to apply in NY, there is a question “Have you worked in NY State in the past 18 months?” If you answered no, there was simply no way to proceed with the application.

NY has another application without this question.

So, if you’ve never worked, but was actually going to start work and you could not start due to Covid19, then go ahead, and YES, apply for PUA!  Will you definitely be approved? I don’t know. NY may approve or decline your application. If you need the financial assistance, then you may as well give it a try.
Read this post for the best way to apply in NY if you never worked.

Self-Employment
Remember, if you did work in the previous 18 months, even if it was just self-employed work you did for yourself, then you are also eligible. The above is referring to even if you didn’t do any work whatsoever in the previous 18 months.

Any questions? reach out or leave a message below. 

Keep us posted on how things work out for you.

Visit HomeUnemployed.com for more on unemployment and the stimulus payments.

<Disclaimer: The info here, as with the rest of the site, is strictly my opinion and not financial advice.>