Pennsylvania

Dark n Stormy Knight

(10,029 posts) Sat Apr 18, 2020, 06:25 PM Apr 2020

Application for PA Pandemic Unemployment Assistance now available

Sorry if this has already been reported. I searched and didn't see it so...

Sometime today the portal for those who don't normally qualify for PA state unemployment compensation (self-employed, gig workers, small biz owners, and independent contractors) to apply was up.

https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/Pages/Filing-for-PUA.aspx

Scroll down to the bottom for the blue box with File for PUA in it.

Finally finished applying (for my husband, but I did it because he is quite E-lillterate) not long ago. Many annoyances and confusing aspects to the application process.

For instance, after providing info of self-employment, last work day, etc., you get to a page saying your Employment History is empty. Down the page is an asterisk saying if unemployed you need to add your Employment History, but it's not entirely clear how to do that.

We decided to click Add Another , even though, as Lewis Carroll had Alice say: you can't have another if you haven't had one. Then to add my husband's self employment business as his own employer and answer a lot of questions about that employer, many of which don't really apply to a sole proprietor...

Also, they ask for banking info for direct deposit, but later indicate that if you qualify for benefits you'll get them via a damn debit card.

Anyway, good luck!

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Also note:

There is a timeout with no indication of that when you start and no warning before they shut your out. So, I guess read the "What you'll need to apply" bit carefully and have all dox & info at hand. And try to keep clicking on stuff if you need extra time. (Very user-unfriendly!)

Then you will have to log in again, so be sure you're saved your self-created log-in info. Oh, and they will change your self-created Username to all caps, in case you don't notice it, which I didn't at first.