What is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)?
The PUA program offers extended unemployment aid to individuals who have traditionally been ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits, including freelancers, self-employed workers, and independent contractors. PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits, which are available retroactively starting on or after January 27, 2020, and ending on or before December 31, 2020. This program also grants a temporary increase in unemployment compensation of an additional $600 per week, on top of regular benefits, to all UI and PUA recipients. Eligibility and application processes will vary by state, so please familiarize yourself with your particular state requirements.
How do I apply?
Contact your state’s unemployment insurance program as soon as possible after losing work. Many states have recently updated their systems with new applications for PUA and in response to the unprecedented demand unemployment agencies are experiencing. We have compiled a list of state application pages with details on how to apply as a freelancer.
Last updated May 18, 2020.
- Alabama: accepting PUA claims alongside traditional unemployment claims; posted guidance for self employed.
- Alaska: applications open; guidance for self-employed available.
- Arizona: online applications open.
- Arkansas: online applications open.
- California: online applications open.
- Colorado: online applications open.
- Connecticut: online applications for PUA not yet launched; DOL requests self-employed to first file a UI claim, as PUA applicants must first be denied for traditional UI.
- DC: online applications open.
- Delaware: online applications open; read through PUA instructions to apply.
- Florida: online applications open.
- Georgia: online applications open.
- Hawaii: online applications open, with instructions for self-employed workers.
- Idaho: online applications open; expect first payments in May.
- Illinois: online applications open; read PUA guidance before applying.
- Indiana: online applications open; read PUA guidance before applying.
- Iowa: online applications open, with instructions for self-employed workers.
- Kansas: online applications open.
- Kentucky: accepting self-employed claims through its UI portal.
- Louisiana: accepting self-employed claims through its UI portal, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Maine: online applications open; with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Maryland: online applications open.
- Massachusetts: online applications open; landing page includes instructions for self-employed.
- Michigan: online applications open, with guidance for applicants.
- Minnesota: online applications, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Mississippi: online applications open.
- Missouri: online applications open, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Montana: online applications open.
- Nebraska: accepting self-employed claims through its UI portal.
- Nevada: accepting PUA application alongside traditional UI claims; with guidance on PUA claims.
- New Hampshire: online applications open; landing page includes instructions for self-employed.
- New Jersey: online applications open, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- New Mexico: online applications open.
- New York: online applications open, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- North Carolina: online applications open.
- North Dakota: online applications open.
- Ohio: online applications open, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Oklahoma: online applications open.
- Oregon: self-employed open.
- Pennsylvania: online applications open.
- Rhode Island: online applications open.
- South Carolina: online applications open; with guidance for self-employed workers.
- South Dakota: online applications open.
- Tennessee: online applications open.
- Texas: online applications open.
- Utah: online applications open, with guidance for self-employed workers.
- Vermont: online applications open.
- Virginia: online applications open.
- Washington: online applications open; landing page includes instructions for self-employed workers.
- West Virginia: online applications open.
- Wisconsin: online applications open.
- Wyoming: online applications open, with general instructions for applying.