CNMI Department of Labor Secretary Vicky I. Benavente on Friday said the checks for the second round of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance/Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation have been printed.
“We have been printing checks for the second round of PUA and we hope to get the majority out by Monday,” she said.
These include all claims filed in February of this year, as well as the first two weeks of March.
“We are pushing out those payments through direct deposit and through paper checks in the next few days,” the Labor secretary said.
The last day to submit an online application for this second round of unemployment payments was Friday, March 12, while paper applications were accepted until Monday, March 15.
After the final application deadline, the PUA/FPUC headquarters on Capital Hill closed to the public in order to process applications.
Benavente said “inputting the paper applications” is a tedious process.
But she assured the community that each application has a date stamp and every claimant’s file is assigned to a specific caseworker.
This process will allow the caseworkers to work as quickly as they can, she said, noting that there are more than 100 employees working on the PUA program.
As of March 19, Secretary Benavente said CNMI DOL received more than 10,000 applicants for the second round of PUA/FPUC.
Claimants from the first round who still have not received their funds have some issues with their documents, she added.
CNMI DOL encourages applicants to call its office to learn what the issue is with their applications.
“We have come across some people who were actually informed about the issue of the application, but didn’t understand it.… If the applicant doesn’t understand why their application was rejected or disqualified…please give us a call,” Benavente said.
Individuals who have questions about the PUA/FPUC programs are encouraged to email info@puamarianas.com or call any of the following numbers between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, except on holidays:
Saipan: 322-8870/71/72/73/74/76/77/78/79/80 or 989-9190/92/93/94
Rota: 989-9001
Tinian: 989-9000 or 433-0889
Individuals who are eligible for PUA must file weekly claim certifications to demonstrate their continued eligibility either in person or online by filing online or in person. Continued eligibility is determined on a week-by-week basis.
They are also encouraged to consult the “PUA/FPUC Benefits Rights Information Handbook” found on the CNMI Department of Labor website, http://www.marianaslabor.net, under “Forms and Publications” for details.
Individuals who willfully conceal material facts or knowingly make false statement(s) to obtain PUA to which they are not entitled will be required to repay all benefits fraudulently collected and may be subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
To report any perceived instances of wrongdoing or fraud pertaining to the PUA/FPUC programs, individuals are encouraged to call 989-9095.
