PUA Claim Issues

Outstanding Claim Issues. Unresolved issues that are under review by staff.

DUA – Unemployment not Result of Disaster. Indication that your unemployment or separation may not be a result of a disaster.

PUA – Other Program Eligibility. Indication that you may have other program eligibility available such as regular unemployment insurance. PUA benefits can only be compensated when no other program eligibility is available. This is resolved through staff review.

PUA – Eligibility. Indication that your eligibility is under review for reasons other than related to the pandemic. This is resolved through staff review.

PUA – Refusal to Telework. Indication that you may have refused an offer to work from home by making use of the Internet, email, and/or the telephone.

PUA – Refusal of Work. Indication that you may have refused to accept suitable employment. PUA – Receiving Sick Leave. Indication that you may have received compensation for sick leave.

Glossary of PUA/UI Terms

Additional Claim (AC). A notice of new unemployment filed at the beginning of a second or subsequent claim series within a benefit year or within a period of eligibility when a break of one week or more has occurred in the claim series because of intervening employment.

Agent State. The state in which a claimant files an interstate claim for compensation against another (liable) state where wages were earned. See Pay State.

Backdating. Dating a claim prior to the week in which the claimant is filing to accommodate the fact that the claimant is eligible to claim for prior weeks.

Base Period or Base Year. A specified period of 12 consecutive months or, in some states, 52 weeks preceding the beginning of a benefit year. In most states, it is the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the week in which a claimant files an initial claim. See PUA Base Period.

Base Period Employer. Any covered employer who paid wages to a given claimant during the base period.

Benefit Formula. A mathematical formula specified in state unemployment compensation law or federal laws used as the basis for determining an individual’s weekly benefit amount and potential maximum benefit entitlement.

Benefit Rights Information (BRI). Explanation of a claimant’s rights and responsibilities given at the time new claim is filed.

Benefit Year Beginning (BYB). The first day of the first week an individual would be permitted to claim for potential benefits.

Benefit Year Ending (BYE). The last day of the last week that an individual would be permitted to claim before the benefit year ends.

Calendar Quarter. The three-month period beginning on the first day of January, April, July and October each year and ending on the last day of March, June, September and December, respectively.

Claimant. Any individual who has filed a claim for unemployment benefits.

Claimant Fraud. The willful misrepresentation or nondisclosure of a material fact by a claimant for the purpose of obtaining benefits to which the individual is not entitled.

Combined-Wage-Claim (CWC). A claim filed in one state against wage credits earned in two or more states.

Continued Claim (CC). A request by claimants in writing or electronically (by phone or internet) to certify unemployment status and eligibility to receive benefit payment or waiting period credit. See also Weekly Certification.

Covered Employment. Employment whose length and conditions meet the criteria for employer liability for payment of taxes under the state or federal unemployment insurance law.

Crossmatch. Matching data with other states and/or government agencies to identify potential fraud and/or overpayment.

Commuter Claimant. Under the Intrastate Benefit Payment plan, a worker who travels regularly across a state line from home to work and, by mutual agreement between states, files in the state where the individual last worked when employed.

Determination. A decision by the State Unemployment Agency regarding the unemployment claim of an individual or the tax status of an employer. This generally results in an agency-generated document that is appealable.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Pays benefits to anyone unemployed as a result of a major disaster and who is not entitled to any other type of unemployment insurance (UI).

Disqualification. Based on state law and or federal law, claimants are disqualified from benefits for a definite or indefinite period. Possible reasons include not being able, available, or actively seeking work as required; voluntarily leaving employment without good cause; discharge for misconduct or gross misconduct, misrepresentation; refusal to work; failure to report as required; participating in a labor dispute that results in work stoppage; and school attendance.

Earnings Allowance (Earnings Disregard). The amount prescribed by state unemployment compensation laws that a claimant may earn in a week without any reduction in the weekly benefit amount.

Exhaustee. Any claimant who has been paid the full amount of their entitlement for a given program.

Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC). A 100% federally funded program that provides benefits to individuals who have exhausted regular state benefits. Also see PEUC

Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). The identification number assigned to employers by the Internal Revenue Service to control reporting and accounting functions. Not compatible with the employer account number assigned by State agencies.

Federal Claims Control Center (FCCC). The official source of Federal military wage and separation information for the UCX program. It also maintains claims control data for both the UCFE and UCX programs when an Intrastate or Interstate benefit year has been established that caused a wage assignment.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC). An additional $600 added to each week of unemployment insurance or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the CARES Act payable for the period starting with the week ending April 4, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020.

Fraudulent Claim. See Claimant Fraud

Gig Worker. Workers who are independent contractors, online platform workers, and contract firm workers who enter into formal agreements with on-demand companies to provide services to the company’s clients. (Example: Uber and Lyft drivers)

Higher Authority Appeal. The higher of two administrative authorities provided by State unemployment compensation laws to make decisions with respect to appeals.

Initial Claims (IC). Any notice of unemployment filed (1) to request a determination of entitlement to and eligibility for compensation or (2) to begin a second or subsequent period of eligibility within a benefit year or period of eligibility

Interstate Combined-Wage Claim. Combined-wage claims in which the paying State is not the State in which the claim is filed and the interstate claims procedures are used in making the payment.

Intrastate Combined-Wage Claims. Combined-wage claims in which the paying State is also the State in which the claim is filed and to which the other State or States will transfer wage credits.

Labor Dispute. A circumstance when multiple Claimants are involved in a strike or a situation where there are multiple Claimants who have the same issue with one Employer.

Lag Quarter(s). The quarter(s) between the end of a base period and the quarter that includes the beginning date of the benefit year.

Lower Authority Appeal. The lower of two administrative authorities provided by the state unemployment compensation laws to make decisions with respect to appeals.

Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA). The maximum amount of benefits an individual may receive during a benefit year (or duration of benefits).

Monetary Determination. A written notice issued to inform an individual whether or not the individual meets the employment and wage requirements necessary to establish entitlement to compensation under a specific program and, if entitled, the weekly and maximum benefit amounts the individual may receive.

Non-Covered Worker. A worker whose wages are not covered for unemployment insurance purposes.

Non-Fraud Overpayment. Overpayment is not a result of intentional misrepresentation of facts and repayment will be according to ‘non-fraud’ guidelines.

Non-Monetary Determination. A decision made by the initial authority based on facts related to a detected issue that had the potential to affect the claimant’s past, present, or future benefits.

Non-Monetary Redetermination. A decision made that requires reopening a non-monetary determination and reversing or modifying the previous determination.

Non-Monetary Issue. An act, circumstance, or condition potentially disqualifying under State law. Overpayment. An amount of benefits paid to an individual to which the individual is not legally entitled, regardless of whether or not the amount is subsequently recovered.

Overpayment Determination. A determination sent to a claimant when an overpayment is established that details the overpayment amount and any appeal rights.

Parent Claim. A regular unemployment insurance (UI) claim that determines monetary eligibility for Trade Readjustment Allowances (TRA) and State Extended Benefits (SEB).

Partial Claim. A claim filed by a worker for any week wherein the worker did not work a full week or earn an amount equal or in excess of their weekly benefit amount (WBA).

Payroll Protection Program (PPP). The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. If you receive wages through this program, they are reportable as earnings.

Pay State (or Paying State). As part of a Combined Wage Claim (CWC), the state where the claimant files the claim and, based on combining employment and wages with another state, becomes eligible to receive benefits.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Unemployment support for otherwise ineligible workers, including self-employed, Independent Contractors and Gig Workers through the CARES Act.

Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). 13 additional weeks of benefits for unemployment insurance exhaustees through the CARES Act. PEUC is payable effective March 29, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

PUA base period. The base period for computing PUA’s weekly benefit amount (WBA) is the most recent tax year, calendar year 2019. This differs from regular UI claims, so additional documentation may need to be required

Reopened Claim (RC). The first claim filed after a break in claim series during a benefit year caused by other than intervening employment such as illness, disqualification, unavailability, or failure to report for any reason other than job attachment.

Requalification. A process by which a claimant may re-establish eligibility for unemployment insurance through re-employment following a determination of ineligibility and a period of disqualification.

State Extended Benefits (SEB). The supplemental benefit program that pays extended compensation during periods of specified high unemployment to individuals for weeks of unemployment.

Telework. Work from home, making use of the Internet, email, and/or the telephone.

Total Wages. The dollar value of all wages paid in employment covered by unemployment insurance law.

Trade Readjustment Allowance (TRA). Benefits paid to workers under the Trade Act who exhausted all entitlement to unemployment insurance (UI).

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). A federal program offering a variety of benefits and services to workers under a registered TAA petition number. Services include job training, job search and relocation allowances, income support, and assistance with healthcare premium costs. TRA is part of the TAA program.

Training Waiver. Required when a TRA claimant is not initially required or able to be enrolled in approved training.

Transfer State (or Transferring State). As part of a Combined Wage Claim (CWC), this state has covered employment and wages in the base period of a claim in the Pay State; and transfers such employment and wages to the Pay State for its use in determining the benefit rights of the claimant under its law.

Treasury Offset Program (TOP). Administered by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s Debt Management Services (DMS), TOP is a centralized offset program used to collect delinquent debts owed to federal agencies and states (including past-due child support)

Unemployment Compensation (UC or Ul). A program under which an individual who is unemployed through no fault of their own is paid weekly benefits based upon past wages in employment covered by State or Federal UC laws.

Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemen (UCX). The Federal program that provides benefits to ex-servicemen.

Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE). The Federal program that provides benefits to ex-Federal employees.

Virtual OneStop (VOS). Geographic Solutions’ system for one-stop or workforce center staff that incorporates case management, customer tracking, and follow-up services. VOS also provides services to anyone seeking work, training, or career exploration; and to employers for creating job orders and finding suitable candidates.

Wage and Separation Report. A form used by a State agency to request a report from a base period employer regarding the wages earned by the claimant and reason(s) for separation from employment.

Wage Credits. Wages earned by persons working in employment covered by State unemployment compensation laws.

Wage Investigation. An investigation of a worker to determine if wages are properly reported.

Wage Record. A record maintained by a State agency of an individual employee’s quarterly earnings in covered employment reported by subject employers.

Wage Report. A quarterly report by a subject employer listing the wages of each individual worker in employment during the quarter.

Week of Unemployment. Any week during which an individual is totally or partially unemployed. Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA). The amount payable to a claimant for a compensable week of total unemployment.

Weekly Certification. The seven-day period beginning Sunday and ending on Saturday for which the claimant is certifying a request for benefit payment for the week. An issue of eligibility detected during a weekly certification may be cause for an additional review and delay in benefit payment for the period.

Weeks Claimed. The number of weeks of benefits claimed, including weeks for which a waiting period or fixed disqualification period is being served. Interstate claims are counted in the state of residence.

Weeks Compensated. The number of weeks claimed for which UI benefits or PUA are paid. Weeks compensated for partial unemployment are included. Interstate claims are counted in the paying state.

Workers Compensation (WC). A program under which workers are paid benefits resulting from a work- related injury or disability. This program has no relationship to Unemployment Compensation.