For Immediate Release
March 10, 2021
Contact: Stacy Johnston
Acting Public Information Officer
505.250.3926
Unemployment benefits continue without interruption in New Mexico
(Albuquerque, NM) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, sending the relief bill to President Biden to sign. This legislation is in response to the continued health and economic issues caused by COVID-19 and provides an extension of federal unemployment programs through the week ending September 4, 2021. The extended programs include:
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) – becomes available after regular state UI benefits are exhausted.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – for self-employed, gig economy workers, independent contractors, and those with insufficient work history.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) – provides and additional $300 to eligible weekly certifications.
The programs mentioned above were scheduled to end on March 13, 2021 under the Continued Assistance Act of 2020, however, with the American Rescue Plan Act being passed and signed before that date is reached, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions will continue benefit payments to eligible claimants without interruption.
“We want to thank the United States Congress and President Biden for taking this bold, necessary action quickly,” said Bill McCamley, NMDWS Secretary. “We know that so many New Mexicans are still living check to check and our department will do everything we can to make sure our friends and neighbors needing help during the pandemic can continue to pay their bills as we shift into recovery.”
Over 107,000 New Mexicans are still receiving unemployment benefits. .
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