The End Of The Cares Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits

End of the Pandemic Unemployment Benefits – What Rights Do I Have?

Which benefits are ending?

DC had three special unemployment programs that expired September 4, 2021:

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or PEUC, extended the time you could receive regular unemployment (“UI”) benefits.
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, or FPUC, gave an extra $300 per week.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, gave benefits to people who couldn't get regular UI.

Are there any other unemployment benefits I can apply for?

If you were in the PEUC or regular UI program and you did not get a payment for the week ending Sept. 4, 2021, you may be eligible for the week ending Sept. 11, 2021 through another program called Extended Benefits (EB). If this applies to you or you aren’t sure, please contact DOES at 202-724-7000.

I think DOES owes me money for past weeks. Can they still pay me?

Yes! DOES has to keep processing all timely filed claims. If you are still waiting on DOES to make a decision on your claim or to pay you for missing weeks, please keep following up with them at 202-724-7000 or uiescalations@dc.gov.

DOES told me they aren’t going to pay me – what can I do?

You can request a hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).

Get the appeal form at https://oah.dc.gov/publication/ui-requesthearing-appeal-determination-claims-examinerinvolving-unemployment-benefits or by calling OAH at (202) 442-9094. You can email it to oah.filing@dc.gov or bring it in person to the Office of Administrative Hearings, 441 Fourth Street NW, Suite 450N, Washington, DC 20001.

Are there any non-UI programs I can apply for to help pay my bills?

Yes! DC residents can apply for Medical Assistance, SNAP (food stamps), and TANF at https://dhs.dc.gov/page/apply-recertify-benefits, via smartphone through District Direct Mobile App, or in person at a DHS Service Center. 

You can apply for utility bill assistance from the DC Department of Energy and Environment.

*If you receive benefits through these programs, please meet all your reporting requirements, including if your unemployment benefits stop.

Learn more about how the end of the CARES Act impacted unemployment benefits with Nicole Dooley, Supervising Attorney in the Public Benefits Law Unit and Alexis Christensen, a former fellow in the Public Benefits Law Unit.