As many of you know, Governor Jim Justice announced on May 15th, 2021 that he will be ending participation in All Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Programs including but not limited to PUA, PEUC, FPUC, MEUC and the $300 federal unemployment boost on June 19, 2021. This will end unemployment eligibility to independent contractors, gig-workers, and sole-proprietors and many more citizens who are no longer eligible for regular unemployment benefits who are not able to work during these troublesome times. Ending these programs will cause a lot of families to lose their homes, source of income, food, etc... Not everyone on unemployment is just being lazy. For most of us the federal programs mentioned above have been our lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic when the jobs we worked for have completely shut down, laid off, or dramatically reduced hours. This is no longer about politics, we are talking about families and children that will be on the verge of homelessness and other consequences. Small businesses would continue to remain close, if these programs are ending earlier than expected while still under a Federal pandemic emergency as well as the West Virginia State of Emergency. 

West Virginiawill also lose the $240,416,510 in revenue from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment benefits being spent throughout the state.  The governor will hurt 45,782 unemployment workers.

So we the people of the state of West Virginia are asking Governor Jim Justice to reconsider his actions to end these federal programs short of the federal end date of September 6, 2021. 

These derelictions of responsibility are an affront to workers in West Virginia. The CARES Act, which started Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, proclaims that Secretary shall provide to any covered individual unemployment benefit assistance while such individual is unemployed” due to COVID-19 and not eligible for other unemployment benefits. Workers were right to believe that they would receive these benefits through September 6, but now they’ve been denied this federal aid.

We are also requesting for our President Joe Biden,  to step in and take action against these Governors in anyway he legally can. Governors should not be allowed to overstep any Federal Bill. A CLEARER EXECUTIVE ORDER IF NEEDED. 

Thank You.

PUA Self-Employed/Freelancers/Gig Workers