The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, or CARES Act, is providing unemployment benefits across the country. Iowa Workforce Development explains the unemployment benefits are available for those who are self-employed, independent contractors, nonprofit employees, gig economy workers, and those who have exhausted other unemployment benefits. The CARES Act also includes those eligible to be paid an additional $600 weekly benefit. IWD is receiving guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to process benefits and establish necessary steps in the next 10 days. The CARES Act provides unemployment programs including Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation to provide the additional $600 per week for eligible people from March 29 to July 25, and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are self-employed or independent contractors.

Also available is Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation with up to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for those who have exhausted regular unemployment benefits under state or federal law. And in place is the Paycheck Protection Program to serve as a loan to businesses with fewer than 500 employees to keep workers on the payroll and the Small Business Administration will forgive these loans. Businesses should contact the Small Business Administration to check eligibility.

Benefits are not available to employees who quit their job.