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Here’s how to file for unemployment if you’re self-employed.

State Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Centreville, is reminding residents that independent contractors and employees in the “gig economy” can apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

“Entrepreneurs can receive much needed assistance during this financially difficult time,” Belt said. “The assistance will help people affected reduce some of their financial hardship and provide them with unemployment benefits.”

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides up to 39 weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits to individuals not typically eligible for unemployment benefits. In order to be eligible for the PUA program, applicants must first prove they are ineligible for regular unemployment insurance through IDES. After being denied for unemployment insurance, applicants will be considered for the PUA program.

People can file for unemployment insurance here or call (800) 244-5631.

In order to process the extremely high volume of unemployment benefit claims due to COVID-19, IDES has implemented the following schedule for those filing claims:

Filing Schedule:

•       Those with last names beginning with letters A-M will be asked to file their claims online Sundays, Tuesdays or Thursdays, or call Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

•       Those with last names beginning with letters N-Z will be asked to file their claims online Mondays, Wednesday or Fridays, or call Mondays and Wednesdays between 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.

•       Anyone can call Fridays from 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. if they could not file over the phone during their allotted window.

•       Saturdays will be available for anyone to accommodate those who could not file online during their allotted window.

53 Comments

  1. Michael Rebresh on April 30, 2020 at 9:42 am

    What an utter joke this has been. I filed for unemployment as soon as the CARES act was signed. As a self employed individual who has been unable to work due to Gov. Pricksters lockdown order, i have had zero income. The IDES sent by me a debit card right away but has yet to deposit a single penny onto the card. I am supposed to be eligible for the PUA but nope! Illinois is ill prepared and unable to handle my claim. Still no unemployment. Meanwhile, the Governor can send his wife to Florida on a private jet to his second home. I am in danger of losing my home. I applied for an EIDL loan to help get me through until lockdown us over and business starts back up again. Slowly I am sure. But Nope! Big corporations with Lost’s of capital or access to it got that money. None for little me and my business. My company was thriving and growing before Covid19. I am afraid that is all over and will Illinois help? Apparently not. Why? Governor Prickster is too busy trying to trash the President of the United States on TV, instead of demanding the very agency he is responsible for, the IDES, get off their bouts and get unemployment for folks like me up and running. It’ not right. It’s not fair. None of this was my fault. While he can go get haircuts, fly around on his private planes and tell the rest of us that we can’t even go fishing. Such a load of crap. And then they expect the Federal Government to bail out THEIR funding problems. Led by a lifetime of corrupt politicians and union folk. What a sham. What a shame.

    • B.y. on May 4, 2020 at 9:03 am

      Gov. Pritzner knows what hes doing he plans on taking the money from the Cares act that has been placed for self-employed workers to pay off the states debt and said the system won’t be available till May 17th (we will see) which leaves us with 2 and 1/2 months of benefits when we should have had it the minute the cares act was approved so if you can work go for it don’t depend on the crooks to help all politicians are corrupt they capitalize off of paid slavery (that’s us) we have been enslaved for yrs to this labor system so they can plan our retirement (ssn) because were not smart enough to save our own money right they tax us every way they can to take more from us and the way this system is set up it only works for the Elites and the globalist the bankers ect. So they red lighted us by shutting down the economy like it really had something to do with this covid19 I highly doubt it another form of control that’s all so when they give us the green light to work say he’ll no we make up 70% if the economy without us and our paid slavery they will crumble and no work no money no economy this is how we will make a change by our actions we demand respect as humanity we are tired of big corporations and who run things without a term so no more spending money with them either support your neighbors and your own communities until this change is made by Boycotting the politicians the corporations and big pharmaceutical companies we have to take a stand by using there same tactics they used against against them they only focus in money so stop the flow and we will stop the corruption and demand our change we are tired of them created a problem and then created a law because they can’t fix what they created in return it benefits them and takes more of our natural human rights away so let’s stand together and demand our change and get these crooks out of office don’t vote either because they already select who they want to fill a position its never been our vote that matters they run these campaigns as a money scheme to make us think we choose and that deception pls wake up and realize it’s all an illusion of a picture they paint hoping we continue to believe the b.s. a long with there filtered news(lies) they put on tv these hospitals are empty the workers are layed off and the CDC sent letters out back in March 2020 to medical staff stating if anyone has any symptoms without proof and die they have to falsely put covid 19 on the death certificate all lies they want to lie to increase the death toll count to force a vaccine on humanity and make the pharmaceutical companies even richer they don’t cure anyone you are a customer thats it keep you coming back to make more money find natural cures because they do exist I know for a fact natural ways cure you but they can’t make money ofd if people that way so they lie and say well be careful you don’t know what your buying and you can mix the wrong stuff thats b.s. do your homework and put them out of business so if we are gonna make any change its starts by standing together and not supporting this corporation/country with our slave labor no more voting and don’t spend a penny with these big corporations bring down the house brick by brick

      • Logic on May 23, 2020 at 4:17 pm

        This is totally stupid. Pritzger can’t use the CARES act money to “pay the state’s debt”. Stop watching Fox News.

    • B.y. on May 4, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Another thing don’t take our loans they create money out if thin air and use the interest to create more money which causes inflation on the fake money anyhow they capitalize off of the earth’s natural resources all for greed our electricity comes and can come from the earth but they find a way to corporitize it to make money the same with our water and natural gas so work on the side make your earnings don’t give them another fake dime that they condition us to believe is real this is how this global scam has been placed on the world we don’t need politics or corporations we need the earth’s resources and eachother

    • Vinnie on May 8, 2020 at 12:34 pm

      Illinois is JUST ONE BIG JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tax Tax Tax. GO TRUMP.

      • Annie on October 22, 2021 at 12:37 am

        I must say, I agree that, since wealthy peoole run the governmenr if the USA & all the other countries in the world that average & poir people are more than likely being financially used & abused. And; also physically abused; witrh, on the job, work overload as welk.
        Absolute power, whuch the rich people has, corrupts absolutely. No doubt about it.
        What can the average & poir people do? Heck if I know?! Maybe, someday, things will take a turn for the better? Maybe, someday, the wealthy will do more sharing?! Who knows?
        For now, forget it! It’s too corrupt.

    • Logic on May 23, 2020 at 4:16 pm

      It’s not the state’s fault this happened either. Making up silly names for people just makes you look ridiculous. This has everything to do with millions of people filing at once while the state is setting up a program to give self employed people free money, and nothing to do with pritzgers wife. I’m dealing with the same issues, but pretending Illinois is any worse at this than any other state is laughable. It is what it is. Just be glad you’re not completely screwed like self employed people are in any other situation.

  2. Earl G Bateman on April 30, 2020 at 11:31 am

    I have filed my unemployment claim and was told that I was ineligible because I did not earn enough. I am a gig economy worker and need to file under the PUA as provided by the Cares Act. I have contacted the number listed above numerous times to no avail. I need help!

    • Zack B. on May 4, 2020 at 12:00 pm

      I’m in the same boat… have you heard anything?

      • Robin on May 4, 2020 at 4:41 pm

        I am self employed as well. And was denied. Sent a card. No money on it yet. We are the ones hit hardest. And overlooked

    • Lu on June 24, 2020 at 2:40 pm

      If you applied you should have received a UI findings letter in the mail telling you you didn’t qualify for regular unemployment. You have to be rejected first. Then go back on the site and apply for PUA. I’m self-employed and this worked for me. If you get approved for PUA, be sure to certify for ALL the weeks you were unemployed due to Covid-19 so that you can get paid retroactively. Good luck!

      • MM on July 24, 2020 at 11:22 pm

        How do you file for the back weeks for the PUA? Mine is still in processing stage do I need to certify like it says at the 10 day mark after you filed the claim or do you wait for PUA decision to certify? Also I checked the part that asks if I’m eligible for a backdated claim which I checked yes I am and it asked for the date and it shows it backdated to the date i entered on the website and it says there is no hold on it and it also says 0 for open issues. I just don’t know what to do next. How long did your claim stay in the processing stage after you filed? Thank you very much for your help. It’s a damn shame that this system was set up as a lifeline, yet when you need it you have to wait for ever, I thought they hired a huge number of extra help to get these pushed through faster. This state is a joke and has been for decades and we need Chicago to be given to a neighboring state or let them form there own state so we in the southern part of the state could have a voice. Thanks for any help anyone can give and I pray we all stay healthy through this scary pandemic and it appears that we may be locking down again if these daily case updates don’t start falling quick. It makes me mad when I see people in places not wearing masks, it’s one thing if they don’t care about themselves,but they are the ones infecting the remaining population that is wearing them and trying to do the right thing. We are a very smart nation,but have zero patience and lack of care about others.

  3. Josh Smith on April 30, 2020 at 11:49 am

    Took 7 weeks to get a letter denying my unemployment. I own several small businesses all closed due to covid. Being self employed I would have never expected a penny from unemployment. However the governor is on tv daily talking about all of this relief. It sounded so promising and has turned out to be so disappointing. At this point it is too late to recover.

    • Lu on June 24, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      It’s not too late. Go back to the site and apply for PUA now.

  4. Leslie on April 30, 2020 at 12:20 pm

    I am self-employed in the corporate travel industry, and have had all future work cancelled due to Covid-19. I filed for regular IL unemployment (as instructed to do as step 1 per the IDES website) and received a debit card (with a zero balance) and a letter informing me that I was ineligible. I was informed via mail to certify beginning on a specific date. I certified online on my assigned date. What do I do now to move forward in this process of applying for unemployment insurance as a self-employed individual (PUA insurance)? There is no clarity anywhere on next steps. Thank you.

    • Zack B. on May 4, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      I’m in the same boat… have you heard anything?

      • Meej on May 7, 2020 at 12:30 am

        You have to file on May 11th

        • deb g on May 11, 2020 at 10:30 am

          PUA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN TODAY. IT IS 10:15 am AND STILL NOTHING WHAT THE HELL

  5. Diane on May 1, 2020 at 9:48 am

    If senator Christopher Belt, is going to “make comments” on “reminding people” that there is help out there for the self employed…
    Maybe he should know and post information on “exactly how” to get that “help!” Then he would know that unfortunately right now even though the help is supposedly there, the place to apply is NOT!! Govenor Pritzker has said that they need to build a website which will not be up and running g until about May 11th.
    Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday self-employed and gig workers in Illinois will get their first COVID-19 jobless benefits starting May 11, blaming the delay on “confusing and very stringent regulations” from the Department of Labor “that attempt to severely limit who can actually qualify.”
    There is currently NO PLACE on the unemployment website for self employed or gig workers to apply.
    That is almost TWO MONTHS or more of no pay for those of us affected by this whole thing!
    I thought it is called “EMERGENCY HELP!” What a joke!
    If he were a hospital…
    I would hate to be stuck in his emergency room!!
    But then again how can a “billionaire” ever understand what life is like for the bulk of residents in Illinois.

  6. Nicole on May 4, 2020 at 9:23 am

    I am a self employed Hairstylist and have not worked since 3/19. I followed the rules per IDES website and didn’t not file until it said to do so which was about 5 weeks later. Does anyone know if I will receive back payments from the day I stopped working and not from the actual day I filed? Thanks in advance!

  7. Zack B. on May 4, 2020 at 12:02 pm

    I’m in the same boat… have you heard anything?

  8. Beth Dodson on May 4, 2020 at 12:24 pm

    I am a self employed housekeeper and have been for the past 3 years. I took a part time job at the end of 2018 and worked about 4 days in December and about 3 days in January of 2019 at that job. I left because the hours were conflicting with my primary job and I only took the job to help a friend out. I applied for unemployment due to COVID19 pandemic. I got the benefits card in the mail right away. About a week later I got a letter from IDES stating that my benefit amount would be zero due to voluntarily leaving my job. Because of that crappy little part time job that I didn’t even work at but about 7 days total is holding up any benefits I should be getting. I’ve called and emailed a dozen times and can’t get anyone on the phone to help me resolve the issue.

  9. Tammy on May 4, 2020 at 12:33 pm

    Absolute ‘disaster’ – but what do you expect from a DemoRat governor and Congress. I am self-employed accountant, and majority of my small business clients were ordered closed, therefore if they are not in operation then I do no receive my monthly fee. I know of so many self-employed biz owners that did not qualify for the PPP because the are sole proprietor’s, meaning, they do not take a salary. There should a have a separate federal site set up for the self-employed, independent, gig workers – hey, I will take the $600 per week federal and forego the Illinois dollar amount. Heck, I had a plan that could have kept the businesses open, but of course we know the real reason why it was shuttered – bring down Trump!! Prickster is keeping his boot on our throats, he wants the $42B bailout – at which point he will be a hero … saved the day for Illinois. We purchased a home in AZ last year, and told my husband time to vacate Illinois, it is embarrassing to call Illinois home. Good luck to our small business community – we pray the Great American Recovery, and pray for the reelection of President Trump.

    • VC on May 10, 2020 at 6:53 pm

      Yes, 4 million cases of Covid19worldwide and over 1 million in the U.S. but it is all a conspiracy against Trump. Trump who in 2018 disbanded the pandemic response unit. Trump who canceled the contract of the company that maintained the equipment stockpiled for an emergency. Trump who dismissed the person responsible for oversight of the SBA loan program 2 days after the CARES act was passed. Trump who charges the US taxpayers $650 night to stay at his own hotel when he plays golf, which has been 1/3 of his presidency. Trump who has gutted every social safety program over the past three years. We had the greatest economy in history, which is why 60% of this country are hourly workers with little to no savings. After 3 weeks, the lines for food banks even in the nice lily neighborhoods were around the block. People couldn’t survive without one paycheck because things were so great. Meanwhile Trump is fighting all the way to the Supreme Court to keep EVERBODY including his base from seeing his tax returns but hey, why deal in facts. During World War II people had to put up with hardship for years but now we can’t even do it for weeks. I understand financial hardship but this was handled incompetently right from the start. While Congress and Trump downplayed this whole thing they were dumping stock because they knew the truth. I swear, Americans get fatter and dumber every year.

  10. Norma Rixter on May 4, 2020 at 2:14 pm

    I was employed part time and self employed. I immediately filed Unemployment and was denied. I filed my appeal and sent it in the same day I received the denial letter. I just received another denial letter stating I am “monetarily ineligible”.

    I live in Illinois and there are no other instructions as to how or what to do to apply under PUA. I understand the first step is to be denied…I’ve been denied twice! My original application and my appeal. I have also been certifying online every week…. I do not have funds coming in and not sure what to do next…HELP! 5/4/2020.

    • Victor Mosley on May 6, 2020 at 1:19 am

      I live in Illinois also. They just put a self-employment option on their applicaton, which doesnt help the person whos filed their claim already. I cried because I thought I made a mistake and didnt check the self-employment box. After reading the comments, I now know that they just added it. #thissucks

  11. Lisa on May 4, 2020 at 5:20 pm

    Disaster….self employed shut down as of 3/8 and told to wait to file and watch IDES website. Took forever then told file and expect to be rejected but that was “part of the procedure” huh? I understood it as that was how to get into the system as the first step and then from there IDES would evaluate the self employed applicants after May 1st when they were ready for them (which I don’t think they will ever be ready for). I understand self employed applicants might take some time to be evaluated since typically they are not considered for IDES but really – 7 weeks. And no-one to just ask a few simple questions to – just a live human to ask if there is anything else I should be doing. That is just not right at this point of all all this nonsense.

  12. Joyce on May 5, 2020 at 10:13 am

    I am the one in restaurant that’s not getting benefits.I worked for 21yrs.I waitressed,waitresses, cleaned toilet dr.hostess bussed tables.I received cash and some cash.I worked 25 hrs a week.I think I was denied for benefits
    Would I be able to get this benefit? I can provide info on this

  13. Cathleen Bender on May 5, 2020 at 10:14 am

    I was in a terrible bicycle accident March 8th fracturing 6 ribs and shattered my collarbone. I was delayed surgery 6 weeks due to the outpatient surgery centers closing for “pandemic” patients possibly occupying all of the available hospital beds. I’m a self employed Physical Therapist and was filed a disability claim through Social Security only to be told it could take up to 6 months to determine eligibility. The CARES act is supposed to provide temporary relief for self employed, independent contractors and gig workers and appears to be working in other states so why does Illinois seem to be having an issue setting up the website to include all of us??? I too would just accept the $600 a week promised to the rest of the workers including the undocumented workers of Chicago but have yet to get any assistance from any of these programs. I’m absolutely appalled that Illinois would bend over backwards to give financial assistance to EVERYONE except self employed individuals. I too will be leaving this state as soon as possible…..leaving all of it’s financial corruptness and incompetence to take care of hard working small business owners. My heart goes out to all of you…..truly. Let’s hope those of us that choose to leave won’t get our butts taxed on the way out to find greener pastures!!!!

  14. Kyle woods on May 5, 2020 at 11:38 am

    Yup same thing as everyone else.i havnt recieved a dime. This is the closest thing to any info i can find smh

  15. Warren on May 5, 2020 at 3:41 pm

    Government is a big heavy boat that takes a long time to turn around. Think about it. When someone goes to get a government job they’re looking for consistent, regulated, reliable, long term work where they can expect their role to be clearly defined. Those kinds of people are not going to be very good at changing this system! That’s the opposite of what they signed up for! The entire army of state workers are wired as bureaucratic thinkers.
    I’ve applied and was denied. I understand that my application will be revisited. I hope to see some financial help in the next few weeks but I don’t envy the governor’s job of changing the system that I think was barely running before this virus issue came on the scene. I can’t label him incompetent yet. He’s got a lot on his plate. I don’t envy ANY governor in ANY state right now. It’s got to be a hard job…

  16. Curt Anderson on May 6, 2020 at 12:11 am

    I filed for unemployment benefits on 3/29. Received a debit card with $0. Also, received a letter informing me that I didn’t make enough money to qualify for benefits. I’ve certified every two weeks since 3/29 with nothing to show for it.
    Pritzker is a disaster. The Feds offered to help IL distribute emergency aid, and Jelly Butt refused. Let’s make him pay with a recall election.

    • Jacer on May 16, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      Gov. Pritzker is doing an amazing job given the hand he – and 49 other governors – were dealt. Like NY Gov. Cuomo, Pritzker does not give a damn about Trump’s bullying techniques (#BeBest) Thank GOD we have Pritzker in office.

      Think back to Bruce Rauner – who was the worst governor in IL history – refused to pass a budget for 2 years. He took the state to junk status! Many universities and colleges around the state nearly collapsed. His utter incompetence and arrogance cost me my job at a university, like many others around the state. A mass exodus happened under Rauner. Illinoisans left the state in droves. College students went to school elsewhere.

      • emil on July 23, 2020 at 7:23 am

        I don’t think you know what you are talking about. TRUMP 2020!!!!!!

  17. Barbara Macari on May 7, 2020 at 3:30 pm

    I have had my own business for 40 years have not worked since this started so now I will lose my residence because of not being able to pay my bills so how is Prickster helping anyone like me. I think this is BS!!!! Filed twice and denied how is Prickster helping anyone? Illinoois Sucks because of the Governor you will be able to find me sleeping on the streets more homeless then ever!!!! If this subsides Im out of this state for sure.!!!!!!!!

    • emil on July 23, 2020 at 7:25 am

      I hope you by now who you gonna vote for. Trump 2020!!!

  18. Mike Rabin on May 8, 2020 at 6:28 am

    I am, “theoretically,” qualified for those expanded Unemployment Comp payments under the CARES Act for sole proprietors, the self-employed, independent contractors, and “gig” workers.

    I have operated my own executive recruiting and consulting practice for many years, under a “company name,” but the “company” is an unincorporated sole proprietorship, with MYSELF as the ONLY PERSON “working” for the company.

    I do NOT take a fixed salary from my “company,” but rather, since revenues and net profit vary significantly from year to year, my “earnings” are the “profits” of the business (revenues minus deductible business expenses).

    NORMALLY, Unemployment Compensation is for EMPLOYEES of a company, who have LOST THEIR JOBS for some reason, AND, are SEEKING ANOTHER JOB with ANOTHER EMPLOYER/COMPANY. So the Unemployment Compensation organization in whatever State the unemployed person lives in NORMALLY looks for PROOF OF JOB-SEEKING to qualify for an Unemployment Compensation check in that time period. I.e., documentation of interviews taken, job ads answered, resumes sent, etc.)

    But I have “been on my own” for many years, and have NO DESIRE now to “LOOK FOR A REGULAR JOB.”
    Rather, when the U.S. largely returns to work, and company offices re-open, I will conduct a new-client-acquisition campaign, by contacting hundreds of companies and trying to sell them on my services. But right now, under “shelter at home” conditions caused by the pandemic, the vast majority of BUSINESS OFFICES are shut down, and employees are working from home — thus unreachable. So for a COVID-19-RELATED REASON, it is NOT POSSIBLE for me to seek new clients for my business in the foreseeable future, and, I lost my sole remaining client at the end of last year (he closed his company and retired). So my income for 2020 might well be ZERO.

    I live in the State of Illinois, and I would like to know WHAT REQUIREMENTS, ACTIONS, or TYPES OF PROOF — OTHER THAN JOB-SEEKING ACTIVITY (which I am NOT going to do) is going to be expected of SELF-EMPLOYED PEOPLE who apply for Unemployment Compensation under the recent CARES Act, to qualify for that aid, and be allowed to KEEP IT over the normal time span that it is offered?

    Further, I would appreciate knowing whether Unemployment Compensation has, or is going to soon have, a SPECIAL APPLICATION FORM for the category of people including the Self-Employed, Sole Proprietors, Independent Contractors, and Gig Workers, DESIGNED to take in account that category’s special circumstances of generally NOT SEEKING A NEW JOB, as outlined above, and if so, where and how to I obtain that form. If not, and the GENERAL application form is to be used, where and how do I get THAT?

  19. Nichole Marie on May 8, 2020 at 6:48 am

    It will not be implemented until May 11th, they have stated several times, in order to be approved for the new program you have to be denied first. And so that’s why they are telling people to do it now. So when the new portal opens the 11th, you’ll be approved quicker. I filed March 29th, but still certify just in case. But they back pay, and 39 weeks.

  20. Janet B on May 11, 2020 at 8:07 am

    I cannot figure out where my claim stands. I filed 03/31. Interviewed on May 4. Claim still seems to be open on the website (when I can actually get in and view it and the weekly dollar amt is still on the account – but, I haven’t been paid yet, don’t know what decision has been made after my interview. Not even sure if my ex-employer has responded to the interviewer yet. I have filed certification twice, haven’t seen a dime. Going on 7 weeks with no income besides the 1200 bucks that went towards paying outstanding medical bills.
    I had a new job lined up before I left my former employer (forced out due to a ridiculous bump in pay to go work downtown since they are closing the office 4 miles from my house) and they have put that on hold indefinitely-still in contact with my hiring manager there. I have Type 1 diabetes, I cannot pay my COBRA because I HAVE NO MONEY COMING IN!

  21. Cathleen Bender on May 11, 2020 at 11:49 am

    I just applied for PUA and the portal was opened today. They don’t make it obvious to find but if you go to the search bar at the top and type in PUA it will get you to the page for the application process to start. Make sure when you are uploading the documents that you do it in the format they ask for as it will be denied if it’s in a zip file. I just took pictures of my documents on my cell phone and emailed them to my laptop and downloaded from there. I’m not tech savvy but it seemed the easiest way to get the stuff uploaded.
    My application was completed and submitted and not sure how it goes from here. If you read the eligibility it tells you you have to have to set up an account on the Illinois job link which is another joke in itself but do everything you need to do so that you don’t get denied. I feel like I’m begging for money and it’s really sad that our state is putting us small business people through such red tape. My heart goes out to everyone in this situation. Good luck to all

  22. Lisa LaManna on May 11, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    Ive been very frustrated as well. I did apply and was denied. Im self Proprietor. I just found this, maybe this will be helpful.https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/learn-about-pua.aspx

  23. Pam on May 13, 2020 at 2:37 am

    I’m in AZ and came upon this site when i searched “PUA is bullshit”. Sorry about the swearing, but I am furious and tired of feeling used, betrayed, manipulated, underestimated, overwhelmed and forgotten. I dont think it matters what state your in these days- if you are not the 1%, then bend over and get ready to take more. How much are we going to take? We are being made fools of again and again and again by some of the most incompetent and narcissistic individuals who have woven such a tangled web of lies they cant remember from one day to the next what they’ve said. It is truly the definition of insane and those of us not zombied out on prescription pills or burying our heads in the piles of B.S., are left to watch in horror as the crumbling of a nation plays out before us in flickering Hollywood neon lights.
    B.y., you have managed to read my mind, quite astonishing how accurately you have hit the daily lineup that plagues my thoughts. (punctuation just gets in the way of a good flow, right?) I agree,with you and share your passion for change. That makes two of us. It’s got to start somewhere. Unfortunately, my attention right now is focused on finding a way to pay for dog food, light bulbs, toilet paper……as AZ has delayed the PUA program and “forgotten” to include the Federal Assistance in the benefit checks.
    Id like to go build a treehouse in the forest and start from scratch, but trying to find a tree that has not been claimed as private property already is harder than finding an honest politician in the USA.

    (I am in Arizona now, but family originally from Chicago Heights back in early 1900’2-1970’s)

  24. Dayna on May 21, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    I can barely believe what I’m reading here! I’ve read my story here over and again! I just mailed my appeal today as I just received MY denial letter, probably just wasted a stamp I can’t afford. Apparently this is just a place to unload frustrations. I kept reading to see if I would get some answers. Nope! No answers, just like the website, just like trying to call the 800 number, busy all the time and tells you to call back only to get the same recording to call back again and again and again… I’m sickened by this. There is no place to get an answer of why sole proprietors aren’t seeing any compensation as we were TOLD WE WOULD RECEIVE!

    • Lu on June 24, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      Dayna, go into the site again now and apply for PUA. You have to be denied for regular unemployment first before you can do it.

  25. Olivia on May 27, 2020 at 12:17 pm

    2 1/2 months of the run-around. system blocking me from filing PUA. hopeless, utterly hopeless. feels intentional. about to lose everything because it feels like the politicians are putting it in their pocket. I have been trying every single day for 2 1/2 months……just to get a claim in….and it’s still not correct.

    so lost and I just needed to vent my angst

  26. Amanda anderson on June 3, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    Hi! Looks like we are all in a bind. I have been trying to apply for self employed unemployment online but cannot set up a account and need a prior username and password from 2007 when I received unemployment. I’ve called day and night since the first week of March and have never gotten to a representative. It hangs up on you because the call volume.. MY QUESTION IS FOR WHEN I CAN REACH SOMEONE BY PHONE TO DO MY CLAIM WHAT EXACT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED AS IM SELF EMPLOYED CLEANING HOUSES! ANY AND ALL INFO IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED! I WISH EVERYONE THE BEST..

    • SC on July 12, 2020 at 3:41 pm

      Call and email your local congressman if you need to change passwords or usernames and can’t get through to the UI office. They eventually get back to you and try to help.

  27. renee on June 5, 2020 at 7:51 am

    Hello, I don’t know if this will help, but once you receive a denial from regular unemployment, you will then apply for pua benefits. Yes, everyone that didn’t sign up for direct deposit will receive a card in the mail, and you would think to certify, but that is not the way; especially if you were denied for regular benefits. Go back to the site where you applied for regular benefits and file for pua benefits. That site is so much easier. There is really never going to be a person to help you. I learned everything on my own. You can upload required documents and everything. You can actually check your status and benefits all throughout the day. If you apply there you will know a decision in a few days. To get familiar with the site once your in your account, I would recommend clicking on everything so that you can see the information for yourself. Don’t give up there is a way. Good Luck to all! Please let me know if this helps.

  28. Vicki Cash on June 21, 2020 at 7:35 pm

    I’ve taught Piano Lessons in my home for 35 years. For the past 4 years I’ve worked as a Home Care Aid for an agency so my elderly neighbor could use me as his caregiver 10 hours a week. I made an extra $100 a week by doing that. When I applied for Unemployment, thinking I would be denied easily because I closed up my studio mar.13. To my surprise they told me I was eligible for unemployment but I made more than $63 a week and so I wouldnt be able to get it. I said that I didn’t want it for the side job. I am wanting the PUA since I have not been teaching for 2 months. They wont give it to me! What should I do? Should i be contacting a LAWYER??

    • Lu on June 24, 2020 at 2:50 pm

      Vicki, if you applied for regular unemployment as self employed, you will get denied. Now go back in and apply for PUA.

  29. denise on July 6, 2020 at 6:34 pm

    For who ever thinks this is not the governments fault it is. They knew about this virus and hid it. My mother is dead because of this virus. She was told to stay at home because her symptoms was just nausea. When she could not take the nausea anymore she was then told to go to the hospital. My mom suffered and died alone without her family by her side. Try losing a family member and then say its not the governments fault.

  30. Amos Wallace on December 8, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    PUA for self employed people

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