U.S. Department of Labor Announces that all 50 States and the District of Columbia Are Paying Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation’s (FPUC) weekly unemployment compensation boost is now being paid to eligible individuals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. FPUC is authorized under Section 2104 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. 116-136), and provides an additional $600 weekly payment to certain eligible individuals who are receiving other benefits.

“I am pleased to report that as of yesterday, all 50 states and the District of Columbia are offering the additional $600 unemployment insurance payment under the CARES Act, which President Trump signed at the end of last month,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “This exceptional payment is one important component of the President’s whole-of-government effort to support workers adversely affected by the coronavirus. The Department of Labor has worked closely with the States since CARES was enacted to provide support and assistance in making these payments to all eligible applicants. We will continue to work with States to ensure program integrity and assist in the payment of unemployment benefits to eligible workers who have sacrificed their jobs to defeat the coronavirus.”

“Today’s news that FPUC’s additional $600 weekly benefit is now being paid throughout the country is a welcome development, and a testament to the hard work of this Administration, the Department, and the states and territories. Thanks to these efforts, Americans in need are receiving an important increase in assistance to help provide for themselves and their families,” said Assistant Secretary John Pallasch. “During this unprecedented period, the Department will continue to proactively provide CARES Act guidance and assistance to states around the clock to make these and other benefits available,” Pallasch added.

FPUC allows states to provide an additional $600 per week benefit to individuals who are collecting regular Unemployment Compensation [including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)]. States are also actively working to make these payments on top of the other CARES Act programs as they are implemented including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). FPUC benefit payments are fully federally funded.

The mission of the department is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.