Sedgwick: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
February 01, 2021
OHIO UNEMPLOYMENT UPDATE
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (The Act), enacted on December 27, 2020, extends many of the unemployment related provisions originally passed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) through March 14, 2021. Below is a summary of extensions and amendments:
Employer Provisions
The Act continues 100% funding of Short Time Compensation / Shared Work benefits through March 14, 2021. It also extends the federal funding of 50% of benefits paid by reimbursing employers (governmental entities and non-profit organizations) through March 14, 2021. And, the Act reduces the federal funding of the first week of unemployment benefits to 50% of benefits.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
PUA provides unemployment benefits to individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits. It covers individuals that are unable to work due to COVID19 related reasons, self-employed individuals, and individuals with insufficient work history to qualify for regular unemployment benefits. PUA benefits will continue to be funded by the federal government. The Consolidated Appropriations Act extended PUA benefits from 39 weeks to 50 weeks through March 14, 2021. Individuals with remaining weeks of eligibility as of March 14, 2021 can receive benefits through April 10, 2021.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
PEUC provides federally funded extended benefits to those individuals that have exhausted regular state benefits. The Consolidated Appropriations Act grants an additional 11 weeks of benefits in addition to the 13 weeks that were granted in the CARES Act, for a total 24 weeks of benefits. The eligibility period was extended from December 31, 2020 to March 14, 2021. Individuals with remaining weeks of eligibility as of March 14th can receive benefits through April 10, 2021.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
FPUC grants individuals that are collecting unemployment benefits an additional $300 per week. FPUC benefits are fully funded by the federal government and will cover weeks of unemployment beginning after December 26, 2020 and ending on or before March 14, 2021.
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)
MEUC is a new program that was not included in the original CARES Act. The program provides individuals with a mixture of self-employment and regular employment earnings an additional $100 per week, which, when combined with FPUC provides a total of $400 above regular unemployment benefits.
Ohio Update
Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) had been mutualizing benefit charges for contributory (taxable) employers, thus relieving tax paying employers of charges. This practice was discontinued for new unemployment claims filed with an effective date on or after November 29, 2020. Therefore, ODJFS has returned to its normal practice of proportionately charging claim costs to base period employers.
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (The Act), enacted on December 27, 2020, extends many of the unemployment related provisions originally passed in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) through March 14, 2021. Below is a summary of extensions and amendments:
Employer Provisions
The Act continues 100% funding of Short Time Compensation / Shared Work benefits through March 14, 2021. It also extends the federal funding of 50% of benefits paid by reimbursing employers (governmental entities and non-profit organizations) through March 14, 2021. And, the Act reduces the federal funding of the first week of unemployment benefits to 50% of benefits.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
PUA provides unemployment benefits to individuals who are not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits. It covers individuals that are unable to work due to COVID19 related reasons, self-employed individuals, and individuals with insufficient work history to qualify for regular unemployment benefits. PUA benefits will continue to be funded by the federal government. The Consolidated Appropriations Act extended PUA benefits from 39 weeks to 50 weeks through March 14, 2021. Individuals with remaining weeks of eligibility as of March 14, 2021 can receive benefits through April 10, 2021.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
PEUC provides federally funded extended benefits to those individuals that have exhausted regular state benefits. The Consolidated Appropriations Act grants an additional 11 weeks of benefits in addition to the 13 weeks that were granted in the CARES Act, for a total 24 weeks of benefits. The eligibility period was extended from December 31, 2020 to March 14, 2021. Individuals with remaining weeks of eligibility as of March 14th can receive benefits through April 10, 2021.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
FPUC grants individuals that are collecting unemployment benefits an additional $300 per week. FPUC benefits are fully funded by the federal government and will cover weeks of unemployment beginning after December 26, 2020 and ending on or before March 14, 2021.
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)
MEUC is a new program that was not included in the original CARES Act. The program provides individuals with a mixture of self-employment and regular employment earnings an additional $100 per week, which, when combined with FPUC provides a total of $400 above regular unemployment benefits.
Ohio Update
Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) had been mutualizing benefit charges for contributory (taxable) employers, thus relieving tax paying employers of charges. This practice was discontinued for new unemployment claims filed with an effective date on or after November 29, 2020. Therefore, ODJFS has returned to its normal practice of proportionately charging claim costs to base period employers.
Contact:
Julia Bowling
Julia.Bowling@careworkscomp.com, 800-837-3200
