Expiration of Federal Extended Unemployment Benefit Programs

Workforce Services Information Notice
WSIN21-08

Issued: August 5, 2021

The Employment Development Department (EDD) is notifying the workforce development community that the following federal extended unemployment benefit programs under the CARES Act will end:

  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) - September 4, 2021
  • Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) - September 4, 2021
  • Federal-State Extended Duration (FED-ED) – September 4, 2021
  • Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) - September 4, 2021
  • Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) - September 4, 2021

The week ending September 4 is the last payable week for PUA, PEUC, FED-ED, FPUC (also known as Pandemic Additional Compensation), and MEUC benefits. Claimants can continue to certify for federal extended unemployment benefits after September 4, 2021 to receive their payments under these federal programs, if eligible. Additionally, any pending payments involving these federal programs will be processed retroactively after the September 4 deadline if a claimant is later determined eligible.

Due to improving economic conditions in California, the state no longer meets the federal threshold for offering maximum FED-ED benefits of up to 20 weeks. Starting August 8, those eligible for a FED-ED extension can only collect up to 13 weeks of benefits. FED-ED benefits will not be payable after September 4. For claimants receiving benefits on a FED-ED extension filed before August 8, and have already collected 13 weeks of benefits or more, those FED-ED extensions end on August 7, even if there is a balance left on the claim.

The EDD will continue to pay regular unemployment benefits. New PUA applications will be accepted for 30-days after September 4, so long as the period of unemployment benefits sought is before September 4, 2021.

For more information on the expiring programs, review the Federal Unemployment Benefits chart (PDF).

As a reminder, Californians receiving unemployment benefits should be looking for suitable work to maintain their eligibility. The EDD mailed individual notices to claimants in phases, informing them of their specific work search requirements. The precise work search requirements for an individual depends on state and federal law and the type of claim a person is on.

Connecting Californians to Other Benefit Programs

California offers many benefit programs to aid people as federal benefits expire, such as healthcare coverage, rental and food assistance, telephone and internet subsidies, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and small business grant programs. Links to these programs are available through the EDD’s Additional Resources webpage. The EDD also provided new resources to help claimants get back to work, as featured on the Returning to Work web page.

America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM staff and workforce partners are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the helpful resources and dates above in preparation for the expiration of federal extended unemployment benefit programs.

Please use these resources as you assist your customers and share this information with interested parties.

/s/ RICARDO FAVILA, Acting Chief
Central Office Workforce Services Division