On Dec. 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Although the political debate about the $600 in stimulus relief has been on the top of our newsfeeds, Congress also made significant changes to the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”)—extending the length of the program and increasing the amount of unemployment assistance a person may be entitled to. The Paycheck Protection Program has reopened, which you may read about in our legal alert.  

The coronavirus relief bill made several notable changes to the CARES Act:

•Extends eligibility for CARES Act and FFCRA from December 31, 2020 to March 14, 2021.

•Extends eligibility, if a person is receiving unemployment assistance under the CARES Act on March 14, 2021, but has not exhausted their rights under the CARES Act, to continue receiving assistance through April 5, 2021.

•Increases from 13 weeks to 24 weeks the maximum time for which states may extend unemployment benefits under the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. As mentioned below, the extra 11 weeks of benefits adds a $300 weekly enhancement, which is a decrease from $600 per week. Moreover, there is an increase on the maximum number of weeks one can receive assistance from 39 weeks to 50 weeks under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (PUA) portion of the CARES Act. The PUA is for those who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or otherwise would not be entitled to regular unemployment compensation. 

•Requires that to be eligible for PUA assistance, a person must submit documentation showing employment, self-employment, or anticipated self-employment within 21 days of submitting an application for pandemic unemployment assistance. 

•Allows a person to appeal any decision regarding his or her eligibility for pandemic-related unemployment under the CARES Act. The procedures for CARES Act appeal will be carried out by the state that made the initial determination and will be done in the same way the state conducts appeals regarding rights to regular compensation. 

•Requires that if a person receives excess unemployment assistance that he or she was not entitled to under the CARES Act, the state providing the unemployment insurance must require the person to repay the state unless it determines the payment was without fault to the individual or such repayment would “be contrary to equity and good conscience.” Essentially, states have wide latitude to avoid seeking repayment. 

•Requires states to report unemployment assistance abuse. Each state participating in the CARES Act must now create a way to allow employers to report to states when a person refuses to return to work or accept a suitable alternative to work. 

•Provides $100 per week in Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation for those who receive at least $5,000 of self-employment income.