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Tony Evers, Governor
Caleb Frostman, Secretary

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722
On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/news/
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce
On Twitter: @WIWorkforce

DWD Launches Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation; Begins Accepting Applications

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today announced that Wisconsin residents who have exhausted their regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may now apply for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). The launch of this program marks the third and final benefit available through the CARES Act.

PEUC provides up to 13 additional weeks of payments to individuals who have exhausted 26 weeks of regular UI benefits or had their benefit year expire without requalifying for a new benefit year. Individuals who receive PEUC will also receive Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an additional $600 to their weekly benefits through the week ending July 25, 2020.

"DWD successfully launched PEUC last night," DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman said. "The added 13 weeks of benefits will provide financial support to thousands of Wisconsinites who remain out of work through this difficult time in our state."

The Department identified all individuals who had a benefit year end and exhausted benefits from June 30, 2019 through the present and those who are currently filing weekly claims but have exhausted benefits and is notifying them by mail that they may be eligible for PEUC and instructing them how to apply.

Individuals who are still filing weekly claims for UI benefits will be provided messaging in their claimant portal prior to exhausting benefits and will be able to submit a new initial application to continue their payment under PEUC.

PEUC Benefits:

Payment amount is equivalent to the individual's regular UI benefit amount.
Duration is up to 13 weeks.
The first payable week is retroactive to the week ending April 4, 2020 or the first week after an individual has exhausted his or her regular UI, whichever is later.
The last payable week will be the week ending December 26, 2020.

APPLY IF:

You have exhausted your regular UI, then you will need to file a PEUC initial claim.
- You will see a link on the dashboard to file a PEUC initial claim after you log into your claimant portal. If you do not see a link in your claimant portal, then it is not yet time for you to apply for PEUC.

DO NOT APPLY IF:

You have a pending unemployment application OR
You are still receiving your regular UI benefits.

If either of the above bullets apply to you, you should not yet apply for PEUC. Continue filing your weekly claims for the weeks you are unemployed.

For more information about PEUC, please visit: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/uiben/peuc/