Virus-related jobless funds to end soon

All federal unemployment programs related to COVID-19 are scheduled to end Sept. 4.

The Virginia Employment Commission has begun notifying customers of the programs’ conclusion, according to a Friday press release.

Affected programs include:

• Pandemic unemployment compensation, which provides an extra $300 weekly for anyone who is eligible for at least $1 of an underlying unemployment compensation program.

• Pandemic unemployment assistance, which provides benefits for claimants who are unemployed as a direct result of COVID-19 and not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, including those who are self-employed or are gig workers.

• Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation, which extends benefits after a claimant has exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits.

• Mixed earner unemployment compensation, which provides an extra $100 weekly payment to certain claimants who have at least $5,000 in self-employment income in the most recent taxable year, prior to their application for regular unemployment compensation.

If a claimant is entitled to benefits and the claim is found to be valid after the Sept. 4 cutoff date through a subsequent determination or appeal, those funds will be paid.

For more information, visit www.vec.virginia.gov.