Arizona Pandemic Unemployment Assistance temporarily delayed

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Economic Security announced Tuesday that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance launch has been temporarily delayed.

The department posted the announcement to its Twitter account at 6:32 p.m. The same statement also appeared on the DES homepage.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance launch has been temporarily delayed. We expect it to be live shortly. Please check back for updates. We appreciate your patience.

— AzDES (@ArizonaDES) May 13, 2020

A tweet just after midnight Wednesday said the system was live.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance system is live! Individuals eligible for PUA can access the system to provide information needed to confirm ongoing eligibility and determine benefits. Learn more at https://t.co/RGyrPSNGs0, and access the portal at https://t.co/Yb0szJ8M8C. pic.twitter.com/1QxjhJXUbs

— AzDES (@ArizonaDES) May 13, 2020

The new unemployment assistance program was scheduled to take effect Tuesday with claims being processed during the week. Payments for eligible claimants are also said to start being distributed this week.

Section 2102 of the federal stimulus known as the CARES Act created the new temporary PUA program.

“PUA provides benefits to individuals who are not otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits,” according to ADES’ webpage.

“DES will attempt to reach out to clients if additional information is needed regarding their eligibility. Individuals who have already applied for regular UI benefits have been denied should not apply again.”

AzDES recently had to correct a processing error whereby insurance claimants who were compensated between May 7 and May 11 did not receive the additional $600 weekly Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit.

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