Carpenters Local 174



Please see the message below and the attachment from Gov. Pritzker’s Office.Hello Everyone,?We wanted to share this information with you, especially those of you who assist with constituent issues/casework.?The recently passed CARES Act enhances existing unemployment benefits and creates entirely new benefits for individuals previously not eligible for unemployment. ?It is important to note that some of the new benefits will not be immediately available and will take time to roll out.??Specifically, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA),?which provides 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment, like independent contractors and sole-proprietors.??As you receive inquiries please convey to your stakeholders/constituents that?these benefits are not immediately available as it will take time for IDES to implement this brand new program.?Individuals interested in PUA should be advised to?NOT call the Department of Employment Security?asking to sign up. ?Calling or going online for PUA benefits will contribute to delays on the IDES call lines and the website. ?Further,?if individuals attempt to apply for PUA benefits before IDES has fully implemented the new program, they will receive a denial letter.??Once IDES is able to roll out the new PUA program, an announcement will be made and applications will be available online and via telephone.? ??Attached is an FAQ regarding the enhanced and new benefits created by the CARES Act and below is a brief statement that can be used when discussing these benefits and the delay in the program:?IDES is actively working to implement the recently enacted federal stimulus package as it relates to unemployment benefits. We understand that many people are eager for information about how this will impact their current and future unemployment benefits, particularly those who have not traditionally been eligible for benefits, including independent contractors and sole-proprietors. However, the stimulus package will take time to implement, and some of the unemployment benefits included do not begin immediately. Therefore, we ask that individuals who believe they qualify for unemployment benefits please wait to call our customer service center until the program has been fully implemented in order to allow our front-line employees to process the large increase in claims for regular unemployment benefits. ?If you believe you qualify under the new federal programs, you may apply for regular unemployment benefits online; however, you may receive a letter denying your application until IDES has fully implemented the new programs. Further details about these new federal programs, how to apply, and eligibility requirements will be made available as soon as they have been finalized. ?Information will be accessible at IDES. once available.?Kind regards,Office of Governor JB Pritzker ................
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