North Carolina independent contractors and self-employed workers out of work due to COVID-19 can apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance as of Friday, April 24, 2020 at des.nc.gov.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA, is a federal program for people who are unable to work as a direct result of COVID-19 and are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits, such as independent contractors or self-employed workers.
How to Apply
Apply at des.nc.gov beginning April 24, 2020.
If you do not have an unemployment claim effective in April, sign into your online account and click on the File a New Unemployment Insurance Claim link so we can determine your eligibility for state unemployment benefits. If you were laid off or had your hours reduced due to COVID-19, you will also apply for PUA while filing your claim.
- If you applied and were denied for state unemployment benefits before April 24, we may need additional information to determine whether you are eligible for PUA. Sign into your online account and click on the ‘Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance’ link to complete the process. If your claim is listed as ‘pending,’ we are still reviewing your eligibility for state unemployment benefits. You may not apply for PUA while your claim is pending.
- If you are currently receiving state unemployment benefits, you are not eligible for PUA.
- If there are no issues with your claim, payment should be issued approximately 14 days after you file for PUA.
To receive payments, you must complete a Weekly Certification for every week you file for benefits. In your Weekly Certification, report any wages you earned during that week.
For benefit weeks ending April 4 through July 25, 2020, an additional $600 in weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation will be paid with your PUA benefits. You do not need to apply separately for these payments.
Any benefits owed for previous weeks will be paid retroactively.
For more help, please call the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance line: 866-847-7209.
