Additional financial assistance through the pandemic was expected to become available as of Friday, April 24 for contractors, self-employed, new hires and small businesses.
BIG NEWS FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, 1099S, GIG WORKERS, NEW HIRES, THOSE WHO EXHAUSTED UI: PUA, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, will be available starting THIS FRIDAY, April 24. Email PUA@dc.gov to get alert. The application will be available at https://t.co/ndnWLeCWKC.
— Elissa Silverman (@tweetelissa) April 22, 2020
For Self-Employed, Contractors or New Hires:
Pandemic Unemployment Application (PUA) is available beginning April 24. The program is designed to apply to people who are usually ineligible for regular Unemployment Insurance (UI). Approved applicants will receive benefits for up to 39 weeks plus $600 per week through July. According to the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), applicants need to fill out both the PUA application and the UI form, and need to be found ineligible for UI.
PUA applicants, including those who are self-employed, independent contractors, new hires, or those who have exhausted unemployment, should:
- fill out the PUA application at http://dcdoes.force.com/PUAForm/s/
- provide 1099, pay stub or 2019 tax return, in order to document 2019-20 wages
- have also filed an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim dated from Feb. 2, 2020 or later at http://dcnetworks.org
New Funding Approved for PPP
Some local banks have already put the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications up online, allowing businesses to get in line for the federal funding. Although it was thought the Small Business Administration (SBA) might reopen applications by Friday, April 24. You should reach out to your bank to see if they are accepting applications at this time.
PPP loans are designed to provide an incentive for small businesses to keep workers on the payroll, and will be forgiven if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and if money is used for business needs like rent, utilities and mortgage interest. is forgiven if you use majority for payroll. Think Local First DC encourages businesses that have previously applied for a PPP Loan to verify with their bank whether your application was submitted or if it is pending.
Our understanding. If it wasn't submitted you will need to apply. You should check to make sure it's not pending due to the funds running out, instead of never being submitted. This link may help https://t.co/w27fsMEflx
— Think Local First DC (@thinklocaldc) April 23, 2020
The House voted to pass a second economic support package the evening of Thursday, April 23, which includes an additional $321 Billion for the program. The PPP program ran out of the initial allocation $350 Billion in just two weeks.
Work Share Program
At Mayor Bowser’s April 22nd press conference, DOES Director Unique Morris-Hughes spoke about the work-share or shared work program. The program is designed for employers who still have some hours of work to offer, wants to keep staff on payroll but cannot pay full-time. Employers can complete the Shared Work Plan Application at https://does.dc.gov/page/dc-shared-work-plan-application
Feel free to email me again at esilverman@dccouncil.us if you are employer interested in Shared Work!
— Elissa Silverman (@tweetelissa) April 22, 2020
Work Share allows employers to file a plan to have workers at reduced hours, and then workers can tap into unemployment benefits. Funds from the Federal Government help fill in the financial gap between those hours and full-time hour pay. Learn more at https://does.dc.gov/page/ui-tax-employers
Funding is expected to be allocated quickly. DOES has asked for patience from callers, and that online users apply using a desktop computer (rather than a telephone). Get more information on COVID-19 assistance from DOES by visiting does.dc.gov
