Additional Benefits Now Available For Unemployed Alaskans

May 1, 2020
No. 20-15

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) announced today it will provide up to 13 weeks of additional Unemployment Insurance benefits to help Alaskans who are out of work due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“Reopening Alaska’s economy responsibly and getting Alaskans back to work will take some time,” said Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter. “It’s important that we help Alaskans out of work through no fault of their own, by extending unemployment benefits so they can meet their basic needs until they are able to return to work.”

This program, called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), is part of the CARES Act signed into law on March 27, 2020. The benefits would be payable after individuals have exhausted benefits on a regular unemployment claim that ended July 6, 2019, or later. The additional payments are available during the weeks ending April 4-Dec. 26, 2020.

The weekly benefit payment and dependent allowance will remain the same. Similar to regular benefits, the additional payments are subject to an IRS tax withholding.

Those who meet the criteria for this program will be mailed notification of potential eligibility and advised to contact their nearest claim center to complete an application.

###