COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

FRAUD ALERT:

• If you received a letter from the DLIR about a PUA claim that you did not file, please report it to us.
• To learn more information about PUA fraud, please click here.

The federal government’s CARES Act provides a separate program for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that extends eligibility to individuals who normally do not qualify for traditional unemployment benefits. This website will help you complete the PUA pre-application.  Upon completion of your application, you will see a Confirmation Screen. By May 15, 2020, additional features will be added to process your application, and you will be sent an email with additional information regarding next steps.

When completing your application, please complete each of the questions as completely and accurately as possible. The information you submit, including income, will be validated against the Hawaii tax records. If your data do not match, it will delay processing of your application.

Mahalo for your understanding as we work to process your PUA application.

The Federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a separate program for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) that extends eligibility to individuals who:

• are self-employed, including gig workers, freelancers, and independent contractors;
• are seeking part-time employment;
• have an insufficient work history to qualify for benefits;
• have exhausted all rights to regular or extended benefits under state or federal law or to Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC);
• have been laid off from churches and religious institutions and are not eligible for benefits under state law; or
• are otherwise not qualified for regular or extended benefits or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

If you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can use this website to submit a PUA pre-application. Please check this website for updates before contacting our offices.

You can complete the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance application by visiting https://pua.hawaii.gov. The application can be completed in under 30 minutes if you have the required documentation and information easily accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Frequently Asked Questions, Click Here!

Applicants will need to provide the following information:

• Social security number
• Date of birth
• Drivers license or state ID
• A-Number (USCIS Number) (Non US citizens)
• Residential address
• Mailing address (if different from residential address)
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Wage records for 2019, which may include:
  • W2 form
  • 1099 form
  • K-1 forms related to partnerships
  • Pay stubs
  • Bank statements
• Bank account and routing information (for direct deposit)