Date:
April 7, 2020
Subject:
Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Under the 2020 CARES Act - Updated
To:
HR/LR Personnel
(U.S. Operations Only)
Please provide a copy of this HR Bulletin to your Local Union Benefit Representatives
Background:
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 was recently approved by the President as part of the $2.2 Trillion Stimulus Act. The CARES Act created Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) in the form of an additional $600 included with the state UC benefit. Early this week the Department of Labor (DOL) provided additional clarification regarding what unemployment weeks would qualify for the additional $600 benefit.
SUB Impact:
The recent DOL communication confirmed that the FPUC additional $600 benefit would first be provided for weeks ending April 4 or 5 (depending on the state). Therefore, all SUB payments made on April 10 will NOT include an offset for the FPUC additional $600. For SUB payments beginning April 17, SUB will be offset (reduced), as appropriate, by the FPUC additional $600 and the standard state unemployment benefit amount. Therefore, by including FPUC in the SUB calculation, the result may totally offset the SUB amount. This may result in a “zero” ($0.00) SUB check for individuals beginning with the payment on April 17.
Employee Actions:
Due to the last-minute nature of the DOL direction, the CISA system may not reflect the appropriate April 10 payment. However, SUB payments will be paid on April 10 in the correct amount.
Employees from AutoSUB states or locations (Michigan, New York, Fairfax and Arlington) should follow the AutoSUB process. SUB applications should not be submitted via IVR or Web. AutoSUB will complete the application process after state UC has been received.
Employees in other states and other locations should apply for SUB using their preferred method (IVR, Web or paper application) and include only the state UC amount received.
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