Here's who qualifies for the extra $100 in weekly unemployment benefits
Under the $900 billion stimulus deal signed into law in December, some “mixed-income” earners would be eligible for an extra $100 a week on top of the additional $300 in weekly benefits that jobless Americans currently receive.
“Mixed-income” earners are workers who get income from both traditional (W-2) and self-employed (1099) sources. In order to qualify for the benefit, they must make at least $5,000 of qualifying self-employment income annually.
This has been an issue for many who earn most of their income from 1099 sources, but got a small regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefit because they received some traditional (W-2) income.
The extra $100 under the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) will be available until March 14 in states that choose to implement it. States must opt into the program to pay the benefits. Most states have enrolled in the program, but have not started paying the benefits yet. Idaho, Mississippi, and South Dakota have not enrolled in the program.
How to apply?
Unlike the extra $300 a week available under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program, the extra $100 under MEUC is not automatic.
To apply for the program, recipients need to prove self-employment income of at least $5,000 during the most recent taxable year ending before the recipient applied for unemployment. For example, if you filed for unemployment during the 2021 calendar year, your most recent taxable year would be 2020.
Applicants need to provide a copy of the most recent tax return if available. If the tax return is not available, other documentation to prove self-employment income could be:
Paycheck stubs
Bank receipts
Business records
Ledgers
Contracts
Invoices
Billing statements
Applicants can submit the needed documentation any time while the program is in effect, but states will make the decision after the documentation is submitted. People who are currently receiving unemployment benefits and are potentially eligible for the program should receive a notice from their state informing them how to apply for MEUC. If you haven’t, contact your state’s labor department for more information.
Denitsa is a reporter for Yahoo Finance and Cashay. Follow her on Twitter @denitsa_tsekova.
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