Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides up to 79 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, as defined in the CARES Act. Individuals may be eligible for PUA if they are not eligible for or have exhausted regular unemployment insurance (regular UI) and all other unemployment compensation. Individuals who are eligible to receive regular UI benefits are not eligible to receive PUA benefits. Before applying for PUA, you should file a claim for regular UI at www.azui.com.

Benefit payments under PUA are retroactive, for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 starting:

• On or after January 27, 2020 for claimants who submitted their initial application prior to December 27, 2020; or

• On or after December 1, 2020 for claimants who submitted their initial application after December 27, 2020.

The American Rescue Plan Act specifies that eligible claimants can receive PUA benefits through the benefit week ending September 4, 2021 or until their benefits are exhausted, whichever comes first.