Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Information Jobs at DWD Agency Directory Online Services
  2. Unemployment Insurance
  3. Claimants
  4. Federal Programs

Federal Program Summary

CARES Act (a.k.a. Federal Stimulus Bill) and The Continued Assistance Act of 2020, and The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

In English  |  En Español  |  Txhais lus Hmoob

Last updated on 3/11/2021 at 4:00 pm

On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the federal stimulus package Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the CARES Act.

On December 27, 2020, The Continued Assistance Act of 2020 (known earlier as the Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act) was signed.

On March 11, 2021, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was signed.

The department is working to review, program, and deploy these updates as quickly as possible. Please check our websites often for the most up-to-date information available, including our Progress Tracker.

Within these Federal Acts are benefits that unemployed individuals may be eligible to receive if they are not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.

BENEFIT 1 - Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

Additional $300/week or $600/week

Provides most individuals an emergency increase in unemployment benefits (e.g., Regular UI, PUA and PEUC).

More information

BENEFIT 2 - Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Not Otherwise Eligible for Regular UI

Provides unemployment benefits to people not otherwise eligible for regular UI (e.g. self-employed, independent contractors, workers with limited work history).

More information

BENEFIT 3 - Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

Additional Weeks when Regular UI Exhausted

Provides additional weeks of emergency benefits for people who remain unemployed after they have exhausted their Regular UI benefits.

More information

BENEFIT 4 - Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC)

Additional $100/week for Self-Employed receiving Regular UI

Provides additional benefit to people receiving regular UI with at least $5,000 net earnings in prior tax year. Not available to PUA recipients.

More information

Federal Programs Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All | Collapse All

Yes, those payments are considered income for federal and state tax purposes. You can ask to have state and federal taxes withheld from your unemployment payments. If you decide to have taxes withheld, we will deduct 10% for federal taxes and/or 5% for state taxes from your weekly benefit payment. You can opt to have taxes withheld at https://my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov.