Agency says Retroactive $600 FPUC Payments Will Get to All Entitled Claimants
Earlier this week, the Louisiana Workforce Commission announced that so far it was one of only two states in the country administering Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), according to communication it received from the U.S. Department of Labor.
And according to the U.S. Labor Department website, only 29 states were the expanded Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) as of April 16, while others work to update their systems.
“The Louisiana Workforce Commission is proud to be leading the way in providing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to those most in need during this unprecedented event,” said Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie. “The LWC will remain fully mobilized to process claims, assist individuals and provide monetary compensation as quickly as possible to those who need it most.”
PUA is the federal program funded through the CARES Act to provide unemployment payments to 1099, self-employed or gig workers and allows them to access FPUC, which provides an additional $600 benefit to any individual who is collecting at least $1 from state’s unemployment program or the federal PUA.
The state of Louisiana began paying FPUC and PUA benefits the week of April 13 for the work ending April 11.
Since March 29, LWC records indicate that the agency has paid nearly $270 million in benefits and assistance to the residents of Louisiana, according to the state agency. Claimants must continue to re-certify their claim each week in order to continue receiving compensation.
The LWC officials also noted that claimants expecting a retroactive $600 FPUC payment for the week ending April 4 did not receive that back payment, but assures claimants that everyone entitled to FPUC for that week will receive it, adding that “with tens of thousands of residents receiving payments in such a short time frame, our system has experienced issues, but we are focused on resolving them and getting these funds out to all the residents of Louisiana.”
