SAN JUAN — Amid growing criticism of the slow pace in processing unemployment claims, the secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of Labor and Human Resources, Briseida Torres Reyes, announced Tuesday that the agency has paid more than $11 million in unemployment benefits since March 16, when the mandatory lockdown began. Requirements and benefits vary by state. 16, the Labor Department has received 200,174 new unemployment claims, for which the agency has disbursed $56 million in benefits. These funds are processed through the Department of Labor of Puerto Rico. In November 2010, Gov. a pandemic unemployment assistance program which provides similar unemployment benefits … Image via screengrab. Share on Facebook Share. Each of the 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands, each administer their own unemployment insurance programs.Benefits are generally paid by state governments, funded in large part by state and federal payroll taxes levied on employers, to workers who have become unemployed through no fault of their own. Unemployment benefits are considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The students involved in this investigation attend the Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Guaynabo, PR. People in Puerto Rico have until June 24 to apply FOR Disaster Unemployment Assistance and receive up to 52 weeks in payable benefit, even though they normally last 26 weeks. Fortuño proposed a tax reform plan that would be implemented in a six-year period, retroactive to January 1, 2010. This means an increase on the current Puerto Rico weekly unemployment compensation of $190 to a maximum of $790 weekly. Puerto Rico’s official unemployment rate has not been reported since February, but Caraballo-Cueto estimates that it is now close to 40%. The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (PR DOL) has issued FAQs regarding unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the new unemployment benefits for Puerto Rico is an increase in weekly payments to eligible workers, which will increase by $600 in the next four months, rising from the current $190 to a maximum of $790 a week. The… In the United States, each state has its own unemployment insurance program, including ones in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. While the official unemployment rate for Puerto Rico's 3.2 million people is just over 22 percent, the jobless rate for Juana Diaz, population 44,000, is 40 percent. Most workers began collecting state unemployment benefits in March or April, and since these benefits typically max out at twenty-six weeks, these workers’ benefits are already coming to an end. Puerto Rican workers who are not receiving their wages in the pandemic may also receive unemployment benefits. Self-employed individuals were instead able to apply for a one-time $500 grant until May 1. The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer the same. Some analysts said they expect the government's layoffs to propel that rate to 17 percent. Puerto Rico is second only to Nevada in the number of people filing for jobless benefits. The Department of Labor's headquarters in Hato Rey. Print this Print. The first change concerns partial payment plans, which allow employers to pay back due taxes on unemployment benefits to the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (“Treasury”). Employers must pay both the U.S. Federal Unemployment Tax and the Puerto Rico unemployment compensation tax. The Unemployment Insurance benefits administered by the Department of Labor and Human Resources are available for those workers who are unemployed and who meet the eligibility requirements established in the Puerto Rico Employment Security Act, Act. (Credit: Labor Department's Facebook page). Among the new unemployment-related benefits for Puerto Rico employees are: a $600 supplement to state-paid unemployment compensation for those who already qualify for up to four months. U.S. Unemployment Rises To 14.7 Percent . Generally, the average unemployment benefit in Puerto Rico is $190 a week. Unemployment insurance is a joint state-federal program that provides benefits to eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Puerto Rico Labor Secretary Briseida Torres announced on Thursday that, after the integration of the digital registry of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the SABEN system, her agency disbursed more than $165 million for 55,000 people who requested this new federal unemployment benefit. “Federal transfers, particularly the unemployment benefits programs, are having a significant impact. It is unclear how many people have returned to … Share on Linkedin Share. Share on Whatsapp Share. Here’s a guide to applying for unemployment insurance for every type of worker. Send email Mail. CBPP notes "Extended Benefits (EB) have triggered on in 41 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. August 12, 2020 0 855. disburses $78.5M in unemployment benefits. The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (PR DOL) has issued FAQs regarding unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Know your rights. Puerto Rico Unemployment Benefits - Guide to Puerto Rico Unemployment Benefits If you lose your job in Puerto Rico through no fault of your own, you may be eligible to receive PR unemployment benefits. People lined up before dawn to file for unemployment benefits in San Juan last month. “Those already receiving unemployment benefits will see the additional amount retroactively as well,” she said. In response to COVID-19, the federal government has expanded the Unemployment Insurance program. Department Issues Over $11 million in Benefit Payments. Puerto Rico announced 52 weeks of federally-funded Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) for workers and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs due to Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The median annual income in Puerto Rico is about $20,296 a year, which means that with the temporary addition of $600 a week in unemployment benefits, a newly jobless person could be making more on unemployment than he or she did while working. The scheme perpetrated by a group of students of a private … 74 of June 21, 1956, as amended. This extension was authorized by federal law and doubled the 26 weeks of benefits previously available. Since the start of the mandatory lock-down in Puerto Rico on Mar. Puerto Rico PR High School Students Defraud Unemployment System as Thousands Wait Desperately for Benefits. If you were unemployed due to the recent Puerto Rico earthquakes, you may be eligible to obtain up to 26 weeks of federal “DUA” (Disaster Unemployment Assistance), ranging from $66 to $190 in benefits per week. Benefits can be confusing for people who are furloughed, paid in cash, and in other complicated situations. The table below shows how the number of people receiving benefits has changed in the past year in the 50 states, the Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. However, only employees are eligible—self-employed individuals are not.

For one thing, aid has not come pouring in from around the world, as it did after disasters of the natural kind. No. Unemployment benefits, also called unemployment compensation, unemployment payment, or unemployment insurance, are payments made by a government body to those who are unemployed. Written By Victoria Leandra Originally Published July 30, 2020 2:43 pm EDT. Share on Text (SMS) Share. Among the new unemployment-related benefits for Puerto Rico employees are: a $600 supplement to state-paid unemployment compensation for those who … Moreover, the federal legislation increases the period for unemployment benefits by 13 weeks, from the current 26 weeks to 31 weeks, until Dec. 31, 2020. The U.S. unemployment … San Juan — The Puerto Rico Department of Labor and Human Resources (DTRH by its Spanish initials) announced Tuesday a change of logistics in the filing of unemployment benefits after several violent events were reported, as frustration among people trying to file for unemployment benefits … Share Tweet Link. Requirements and benefits vary by state. The DUA extension granted to Puerto Rico is the first time anyone in the U.S. has had access to disaster unemployment benefits for more than 39 weeks. Puerto Rico's unemployment rate was 15.9 percent in January 2010. Share on Messenger Share. Puerto Rico Labor Dept. Share on Twitter Tweet. Read more in these FAQs about unemployment.. Each state administers its own system for delivering unemployment benefits, so your first step is to check with your state to learn about eligibility, benefit amounts, and how to apply. Puerto Rico labor secretary resigns amid unemployment crisis By DÁNICA COTO June 9, 2020 GMT SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s labor secretary resigned on Tuesday as tens of thousands of unemployed workers have yet to receive financial aid promised months ago amid a pandemic that has deepened the U.S. territory’s economic crisis. The FAQs were issued only in Spanish.