A Pair of New DOL Guidance Documents Address Additional Unemployment Compensation Programs Under the CARES Act
On April 13, 2020 by Schnader in Client AlertsSchnader’s Karen Baillie has written a new Client Alert, “A Pair of New DOL Guidance Documents Address Additional Unemployment Compensation Programs Under the CARES Act.” It reads in part:
On April 4 and 5, the United States Department of Labor issued two guidance documents to assist states in applying for and receiving reimbursement for the new benefits created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. These guidance documents are known as Unemployment Insurance Program Letters, No. 15-20 and 16-20.
The CARES Act empowered the Secretary of Labor to create additional categories of workers who may receive some benefits. In response, the Secretary has made it clear that independent contractors (such as those in the ride share industry) may qualify for benefits if they are unable or unavailable to work because the COVID-19 public health emergency has severely limited their ability to continue performing customary work activities and has thereby forced suspension of such activities.