Hawaii begins processing delayed unemployment benefit program for thousands of unemployed residents

Hawaii will begin implementing the delayed expansion of the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program next week for extended unemployment benefits.

Officials from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced today that they have completed system updates to handle the task.

The federal program was approved in late December, but Hawaii labor officials said technical problems with the department’s computer system delayed the start of the program for tens of thousands of Hawaii unemployed residents.

The “PEUC 2” offers 11 weeks of additional unemployment benefits, which include an additional $ 300 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit, for those who have used up their previous PEUC benefits, which provided 13 weeks of benefits.

The PEUC program has been expanded by the Federal Continuing Assistance Act and will provide unemployment benefits for the week ending January 2 through March 13. There is a phase-out period between March 14 and April 10, which allows claimants who have a remaining PEUC 2 balance to collect PEUC benefits until April 10.

“We are delighted that we have fully restored the PEUC program, on which so many workers in our state depend. These are vital programs that have helped Hawaii residents provide for their families as we continue to navigate COVID-19, ”said Anne Perreira-Eustaquio, director of DLIR, in a news release. “While it is a big step forward, we know that more work needs to be done to ensure that everyone gets the benefits to which they are entitled.”

The news release did not say when recipients would receive their additional funds.

The DLIR will begin processing about 68,000 potential claims next week. Officials said the department plans to offer groups of about 5,000 to 10,000 claims per night.

According to the DLIR website, plaintiffs do not have to apply for PEUC 2. The Unemployment Insurance Division will mail a revised letter “Monetary Provision” that will include PEUC 2 benefits for those who are eligible. It can take up to two weeks for plaintiffs to receive their revised letter “Monetary Determination”.

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For more information and general questions, visit: https://labor.hawaii.gov/blog/main/cares-act-extension-update-2-11-21.