Work announces that the extension of PUA benefits is now available

The Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH) confirmed on Thursday that the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Benefit Program (PUA) is available now, so people who receive this benefit can continue to file their claims and receive an additional $ 300 compensation for 11 weeks.

According to the bureau secretary Carlos Rivera Santiago, citizens have access to the PUA cyber platform and make your claims. These were to be held from the first week of January to March.

“This will certainly bring economic relief to all self-employed people receiving this benefit, which the federal government says will peak in the coming months. The first week of additional benefits to which they can claim is January 2, 2021 and the last week of this benefit extension is March 13, 2021.. In the event that the applicant still has benefits available, he can continue to claim until the week ending April 10, 2021, ”the official stated in a press release.

He added that a group of beneficiaries who have completed the process and keep their direct deposit registered will see the payment reflected in their bank accounts which so far amount to about $ 10 million.

While, the agency works with the contractor in charge of the system that processes unemployment insurance claims so that the programming of the new economic package is available.

“We are working to update the system, we hope to make the announcement soon so that unemployed judges will benefit from these compensations, as will PUA plaintiffs,” he said.

The additional $ 300 for PUA beneficiaries is part of the economic stimulus bill passed by the United States Congress for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure also includes $ 600 checks for most of the island’s residents, which would be handed over once the federal government approves the Treasury Department’s distribution plan.