ABC: New Arizona COVID-19 unemployment payment system to be launched by DES

[Ana]

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Economic Security is set to launch a new system to help those whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.

The new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance system was announced Friday and is set to launch on May 12, according to a statement from DES.

The Department acquired the services of Geographic Solutions Inc. to implement a pandemic system, which aims to get help faster to people in need of benefits.

These changes include the creation of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for certain individuals who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance.

This includes individuals who:

• have exhausted all rights to such benefits,
• are self-employed,
• are seeking part-time employment,
• lack sufficient work history, or
• otherwise do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation or extended benefits under state or Federal law or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation.

PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals. Payments will be retroactive to the date of eligibility back to the week of February 2, 2020.

New Arizona COVID-19 unemployment payment system to be launched by DES

The Arizona Department of Economic Security is set to launch a new system to help those whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.

www.abc15.com