Alabama's Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Ends Saturday

MONTGOMERY, AL — Saturday marks the end of pandemic-related unemployment compensation benefits for Alabamians. Gov. Kay Ivey made the announcement in May in an effort to get more people back into the workforce.

Alabama is one of 25 states ending the payments.

"As Alabama's economy continues its recovery, we are hearing from more and more business owners and employers that it is increasingly difficult to find workers to fill available jobs, even though job openings are abundant," Ivey said. "Among other factors, increased unemployment assistance, which was meant to be a short-term relief program during emergency related shutdowns, is now contributing to a labor shortage that is compromising the continuation of our economic recovery."

The plans ending in Alabama June 19 include:

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides for an additional $300 weekly payment to recipients of unemployment compensation.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those who would not usually qualify, such as the self-employed, gig workers, and part-time workers,
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides for an extension of benefits once regular benefits have been exhausted, and
• Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), which provides an additional $100 benefit to certain people with mixed earnings.

The Alabama Department of Labor said more than 80 percent of the people who are receiving unemployment benefits for the current pandemic compensation program will be affected by the termination of these benefits.

Free job services are available to all Alabamians through the Alabama Career Center System, which operates 53 centers throughout the state. Services include resume preparation, interviewing skills, job search and application assistance, vocational and educational training programs and apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs. A listing of Career Centers can be found on the Department of Labor website.