PUA documents required

This page applies to you ONLY if you're a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimant and you received a notice from us saying you need to submit PUA required documents. See your letter or eServices notice for instructions.

The Continued Assistance Act updated the rules about eligibility for PUA. The law requires that those receiving PUA starting Dec. 27, 2020, and after need to send documents to prove their work history. This page shows the documents required to prove work history.

We posted this page and started notifying customers about this new requirement as soon as our computer system was programmed for it — in July 2021.

If you worked for an employer

Please send us at least one of these recent documents:

• A copy of one or more paycheck stubs. One with a year-to-date field will be most helpful.
• A copy of one or more of your earnings and leave statements.
• Your W-2 form.
• Other documents to prove your employment. Examples include personal checks from your employer or IRS Form 1099.

All documents must:

• Include your employer's name and address.
• Cover some time starting with the first week you received PUA benefits back to Jan. 1 of the year before. For example:
  • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, your document must cover some time from Jan. 1, 2019, to April 18, 2020. In this example, a W-2 for 2019 or a pay stub from early April 2020 would be sufficient.
  • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, your document must cover some time from Jan. 1, 2020, to May 22, 2021. In this example, a W-2 for 2020 or a pay stub from April 2021 would be sufficient.

  If you were self-employed

  Please send us at least one of these recent documents :

  • Your state or federal employer identification number.
  • Your business license.
  • Your business tax return.
  • Any official business receipts showing proof of self-employment.
  • Signed statement from someone who can verify your self-employment. The statement must include the person’s name and contact information.

  Your documents must cover sometime starting from the first week you received PUA benefits back to Jan . 1 of the year before . For example:

  • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, your document must cover some time f rom Jan . 1, 2019 , to April 18, 2020. In this example , a 2019 Schedule C or a business license dated April 2020 would be sufficient.
  • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, your document must cover sometime from Jan . 1, 2020 , to May 22, 2021. In this example , a Schedule C for 2020 or a business license dated April 2021 would be sufficient.

  If you were offered a job with an employer but the job didn't start due to the pandemic

  Please send us at least one of these recent documents :

  • A copy of your offer letter.
  • A statement from someone who can verify the job offer.
  • Other documents that verify the job offer.

  These documents must include:

  • The name of the company.
  • The date the job was supposed to start.
  • The date the job was supposed to end if it had an end date.
  • An explanation of the type of work you would have been doing.
  • How much you would have been paid.
  • The name, title and contact information of the person who offered you the job or who can verify the offer.

  Two important points:

  • The reason the job did not start must be directly related to the pandemic.
  • You must have been scheduled to start employment beginning from the first week of your PUA claim and back to Jan. 1 of the year before. For example:
    • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, you much have been scheduled to start employment sometime from Jan. 1, 2019, to April 18, 2020.
    • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, you must have been scheduled to start employment sometime from Jan. 1, 2020, to May 22, 2021.

    If you were scheduled to start a job in self-employment that didn't start due to the pandemic

    Please send us at least one of these recent documents :

    • Your business license dated during the time you were scheduled to start the job.
    • Your state or federal employer identification number.
    • Written business plan.
    • A lease agreement related to the job.
    • A contract for the job.
    • Other documents that verify the job.

    Two important points:

    • The reason the job did not start must be directly related to the pandemic.
    • You must have been scheduled to start self-employment beginning from the first week of your PUA claim and back to Jan. 1 of the year before. For example:
      • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, you must have been scheduled to start self-employment sometime from Jan . 1, 2019 , to April 18, 2020 .
      • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, then you must have been scheduled to start self-employment sometime from Jan . 1, 2020 , to May 22, 2021 .

      If you became the main wage earner or financial supporter for a household because the breadwinner died as a direct result of COVID-19

      Please send us a copy of the deceased’s death certificate or other document. Any documents provided must include the date and cause of death.

      If the deceased worked for an employer, please send us at least one of the following:

      • A copy of one or more of the deceased’s paycheck stubs.
      • A copy of one or more of the deceased’s earnings and leave statements.
      • The deceased’s W-2 forms.
      • The deceased’s tax returns.
      • Other documents to prove the deceased was employed. Examples include personal checks from the deceased's employer or IRS Form 1099.

      All documents must :

      • Include the employer's name and contact information.
      • Cover sometime starting from the first week you received PUA benefits back to Jan. 1 of the year before. For example:
        • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, your document must cover sometime from Jan . 1, 2019 , to April 18, 2020. In this example , the deceased’s W-2 for 2019 or a paycheck stub from April 2020 would be sufficient.
        • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, your document must cover sometime from Jan . 1, 2020 , to May 22, 2021. In this example , the deceased’s W-2 for 2020 or a paycheck stub f rom April 2021 would be sufficient.

        If the deceased was self-employed, please send us at least one of the following:

        • The state or federal employer identification number for the deceased’s business.
        • The deceased’s business license.
        • The deceased's tax returns.
        • Any official business receipts showing proof of self-employment.
        • One or more signed statements from people other than yourself verifying the deceased was self-employed. The statement must include the name and contact information of the person who signs it.

        Your documents must cover sometime starting from the first week you received PUA benefits back to Jan . 1 of the year before. For example:

        • If the first week of your PUA claim was April 18, 2020, your document must cover sometime from Jan . 1, 2019 , to April 18, 2020. In this example , the deceased’s 2019 Schedule C or business license dated from Apr il 2020 would be sufficient.
        • If the first week of your PUA claim was May 22, 2021, your document must cover sometime from Jan . 1, 2020 , to May 22, 2021. In this example , the deceased’s 2020 Schedule C or business license dated from April 2021 would be sufficient.