Relief Expected This Week For Tennesseans Who Went Weeks Without Unemployment

Some of the Tennesseans who’ve been out of work the longest during the pandemic ran out of unemployment benefits just before Christmas.

The CARES Act provided up to 39 weeks of aid for people out of work, but for some that ran out in the thick of the holiday season. For example, somebody who lost a job in mid-March would have used up the benefits by the second or third week of December.

Despite the latest stimulus package, those who exhausted their benefits before December 26th have seen a weeks-long gap in weekly checks. But for some, payments will resume as early as this week.

A spokesperson for Tennessee’s Department of Labor says its website is now ready for people who used up their CARES benefits to go back and certify for the weeks they missed. Those certifications must include mandatory job searches.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Balances have been added to PUA and PEUC claim extensions. If you exhausted benefits on, or prior to 12/26/2020, please attempt to certify. If you are unable to certify and are prompted to file a claim please proceed and continue the refiling process. pic.twitter.com/RTFOFYNPXJ

— TN Dept of Labor & Workforce (@Jobs4_TN) January 11, 2021

Recipients should be able to get retroactive payments that include an additional $300 from the federal government. That amount more than doubles Tennessee’s maximum contribution.

The newest relief package provides for additional unemployment help to last through March 13. In recent weeks, about 70,000 Tennesseans have been receiving unemployment checks.