Previous Story
CNMI DOL receives $27.5M for FPUC program
|
Posted on Dec 01 2020
The CNMI Department of Labor announced yesterday that it received an additional $27,574,600 for the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
CNMI DOL learned on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 2020, that it met federal reporting requirements for obtaining the additional $27.5 million in FPUC funding.
“This has been the culmination of a monthlong effort between our department and the [U.S. Department of Labor], so this is [welcome] news for the CNMI,” said Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente. “As of Nov. 12, 2020, a total of 36,602 [Pandemic Unemployment Assistance] and FPUC claims were processed through the hiremarianas.com portal. Of these, 17,931 claims were confirmed as fraudulent and ineligible applicants. The claims data, which was reported by CNMI DOL to the U.S. Department of Labor, indicated that unemployment fraud had greatly affected the timeliness of processing legitimate PUA claims in the CNMI.”
Current estimates from the CNMI Department of Finance confirms that the additional $27.5 million FPUC funds will cover benefits payments for the month of September through November 2020.
“The eligible PUA claimants will be receiving FPUC benefits, either by direct deposit or paper check, within the next few weeks. Claimants who opted for paper checks will be contacted by DOL to confirm their mailing address and to confirm if they wish to pick up their check instead of DOL mailing the check. The PUA claimants will be given a pickup date and time by the DOL staff. We ask that claimants do not visit the DOL offices, unless they are contacted by DOL staff. It’s imperative that we continue to follow the safety and health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the CNMI,” added Benavente. (PR)
