Guam Pandemic Unemployment Help reopens Friday
Eligible residents will be capable of reopen unemployment help claims starting midnight Friday, in response to Guam Division of Labor Director David Dell’Isola.Â
The hireguam.com portal stays the identical. Residents can file claims as soon as once more if they continue to be unemployed to obtain prolonged help, he stated.Â
President Donald Trump signed Congress’ reduction package deal in December. It prolonged Pandemic Unemployment Help and reinstated Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation by way of mid-March. Pandemic Unemployment Help initially expired on the finish of 2020, and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation expired in July.Â
The Pandemic Unemployment Help program is now a 50-week program. It is attainable to file new claims. Guam’s most cost stays $345 per week, plus an extra $300 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation for these receiving unemployment advantages.Â
The prolonged program ends March 13. If a claimant hasn’t used his or her 50 weeks of advantages by then, she or he will proceed to obtain funds till April 10, in response to Dell’Isola.
‘It is overwhelming’: Staff with diminished hours now not certified for PUA
Eligibility change
Nevertheless, a change in this system tips renders many ineligible for help on Guam â workers working diminished hours are now not certified for Pandemic Unemployment Help, Dell’Isola introduced Wednesday.
“Should you’re diminished hours, please maintain on as I get re-confirmation from Washington D.C.,” he stated Thursday.Â
Del. Michael San Nicolas, in a press convention Wednesday and once more Thursday, acknowledged the change in eligibility wasn’t meant by Congress when the reduction package deal was handed. Â
“The latest steering referenced by the Guam director of Labor affecting PUA eligibility for employees with diminished hours shouldn’t be in step with statute. Congress has made no change in legislation to immediate this dramatic shift in interpretation, and we are going to work with the Biden administration to repair the confusion. The general public is urged to not panic as we work to deal with this misinterpretation,” San Nicolas acknowledged Thursday.Â
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero echoed comparable sentiments, stating the incoming presidential administration might provide reduction.Â
Dell’Isola stated the latest federal steering he acquired concerning this system extension acknowledged residents, except for self-employed people, who work diminished hours are now not eligible for help. This isn’t excellent, and impacts hundreds of the island’s employees, he stated.Â
“I am going based mostly on webinars and what they’re pointing to in new tips we’ve to comply with,” he stated. “I’ve to reside with the steering …Â are given to me now. I hope we will discover a resolution. One month from now, whether or not the congressman can get it again, the governor can get it again, I hope we will repair this.”
He urged residents who fall into the diminished hours class to stay affected person and never try to reopen their claims.
Reporter Anumita Kaur covers navy, enterprise, authorities and tourism on Guam. Observe her on Twitter @anumitakaur. Attain her at akaur@guampdn.com.Â
