ROTA Sen. Teresita A. Santos recommends “decentralizing” the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance/Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program process.
Teresita Santos
“I continue to receive disheartening news that many of my people of Rota have yet to receive any PUA or FPUC payments since they first applied, or have been partially paid and [are still] patiently waiting for past payments,” the senator said in a letter to CNMI Department of Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente on Friday.
According to Santos, some claimants have stated that payment dates are reflected on the online portal when, in reality, they have never received a direct deposit or paper check disbursement on the specified date or the weeks after.
She said several applicants are confused and concerned that they may not receive any PUA or FPUC payments at all.
She asked that CNMI DOL expedite the process if the delay in payments is due to claim error or issues that have been flagged for further investigation, so that claimants can resolve these discrepancies and finally receive their disbursements.
“If no such errors exist, please expedite the release of their disbursements,” she added.
She said she empathizes with the people’s struggle because she knows first-hand that the cost of living on Rota is notably higher.
“Please do not misconstrue that I mean to disburse payment to the people of Rota first, because all eligible applicants should not have to wait this long to receive their payment or some form of communication from your department about the delay,” the senator said.
“I am hopeful that you will resolve all pending errors, issues, or flags, and have expected disbursements released immediately,” she added.
Santos at the same time thanked Secretary Benavente and the CNMI DOL office and staff for assisting the people of the Commonwealth navigate through “the uncharted waters of the [PUA] program.”
The Continued Assistance Act authorizes the extension of the PUA program in the Northern Marianas through March 14, 2021.
Claimants who work reduced hours as a result of the pandemic may not qualify for PUA.
In a statement dated Jan. 24, Secretary Benavente said her department is “focused on preparing for the processing of applications for Continued Assistance and anticipates more applications to be submitted as soon as the program launches in the Marianas. The official opening date of the PUA program is fast approaching, so we are doing our best to prepare the community by providing pertinent PUA information.”
