Unemployment Insurance Benefits

• District of Columbia
• Washington
• Business
• Employment
• Insurance

Unemployment insurance benefits are generally available to individuals who have been separated from employment through no fault of their own. As part of the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, the D.C. Council has provided access to unemployment benefits for those who are otherwise eligible and unemployed or partially unemployed as a result of the circumstances giving rise to the public health emergency. The work-search requirement has been waived for affected employees. The standard application is still required.

The recently enacted federal CARES Act has expanded unemployment insurance and created three new Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) programs: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”), and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (“PEUC”). On April 10, 2020, Mayor Bowser signed the COVID-19 Response Supplemental Emergency Act of 2020, which allows the District to authorize unemployment benefits for those who qualify under the CARES Act. The District’s UI systems are currently being updated to enable processing of the new CARES Act programs. The CARES Act provides all eligible workers with an additional 13 weeks of UI benefits. D.C. traditionally provides 26 weeks of UI benefits, so eligible claimants in the District may now receive a maximum of 39 weeks of UI benefits.

Government or Lead Agency

Department of Employment Services

Dates Available

Unemployment insurance benefits are available pursuant to the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act during the period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency.

PUA is effective January 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

FPUC is effective March 29, 2020 through July 25, 2020.

PEUC is effective March 29, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

For full eligibility requirements, claimants should directly consult this resource provided by the Department of Employment Services:

The term “affected employee” includes an employee who is otherwise eligible pursuant to D.C.’s Unemployment Compensation Act, who is determined by the Mayor to have become unemployed or partially unemployed as a result of circumstances giving rise to the public health emergency, including an employee who has been quarantined or isolated by the Department of Health or any other applicable District or federal agency; an employee who has self-quarantined or self-isolated in a manner consistent with the recommendations or guidance of the Department of Health, any other applicable District or federal agency, or a medical professional; or an employee of an employer that ceased or reduced operations due to an order or guidance from the Mayor or the Department of Health or a reduction in business revenue resulting from the circumstances giving rise to the public health emergency, all as demonstrated by reasonable documentation. However, note that there is no work-search requirement for affected employees.

Affected employees are eligible regardless of whether the employer has provided a date certain for the employee’s return to work or the employee has a reasonable expectation of continued employment with the current employer.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

• Individuals who are typically ineligible for regular UI (i.e. independent contractors, gig workers, freelancers, those who are self-employed, and those insufficient work history) who cannot work due to COVID-19 are eligible for a maximum of 39 weeks of benefits, which includes $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC).

• The District’s system is currently being updated to enable processing of PUA-related applicants, as they were formally considered ineligible. If you have already attempted to submit an application, it will initially be denied. You will have an opportunity to resubmit an application soon.

• If you have not submitted an application and are self-employed, an independent contractor, a gig worker, have an insufficient work history, and/or you believe you may now be eligible, you are encouraged to submit an application upon completion of the system modifications. To receive a notification once the new application is available, please send an email to PUA@dc.gov and you will be contacted accordingly.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

• $600 per week on top of current regular UI benefits.

• Benefits will be automatically updated if you qualify, are currently receiving benefits, and once the technical systems are modified.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

• 13 additional weeks of UI benefits, plus $600 FPUC, although FPUC expires at the end of July 2020.

• Benefits will be automatically updated if you qualify, are currently receiving benefits, and once the technical systems are modified.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

To contact the Office of Unemployment Compensation – Unemployment Insurance Benefits, please call (202) 724-7000 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email does@dc.gov.

For assistance with your claim, please email covid19.ui@dc.gov.

List of Additional Information

Click here for a quick guide to accessing unemployment benefits.

Click here for CARES Act FAQs.

Click here for more information regarding the expanded UI benefits provided by the CARES Act.

Click here for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) FAQs.

Click here for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) FAQs.

Click here for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) FAQs.

Click here to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Click here for COVID-19 unemployment compensation FAQs for employers.

Click here for COVID-19 unemployment compensation FAQs for employees.

Click here to file a claim for UI benefits online. For faster processing times, it is recommended that you file during non-peak hours, such as early in the morning or late in the evening (8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.).

Click here for more information about the unemployment compensation process.

Click here for information on how to start your unemployment compensation process.