LOST WAGES ASSISTANCE (LWA)

Lost Wages Assistance Program FAQs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved funding for the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES) to provide $300 per week in Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) to eligible DC workers for a limited number of weeks. LWA is not an unemployment insurance program; it is a FEMA program that provides a supplemental payment on top of the unemployment benefits an eligible claimant receives from the District. Benefits under LWA will be available only for the weeks ending August 1, 2020 through September 5, 2020.



To be eligible for this benefit, individuals must have a weekly benefit amount of at least $100 per week from an approved unemployment compensation program and must certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Beginning September 19, 2020, you will be presented with a self-certification question pertaining to LWA when you log into your Claimant Services portal on dcnetworks.org. After certifying that you have been unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19, you will receive a lump sum payment retroactive to your earliest date of eligibility within the LWA program.



Implementing the CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by the federal government to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. District workers are eligible to receive an expansion of UI benefits through three new unemployment benefits programs. A summary of the expanded UI programs offered through the provisions of the CARES Act is provided below:

1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

PUA covers individuals who are not eligible for traditional UI benefits, including the self-employed, those seeking part-time employment, individuals lacking sufficient work history, independent contractors, gig economy workers; and those who have exhausted their benefit eligibility under both traditional UI and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation. As with traditional UI benefits, claimants should apply for PUA in the jurisdiction where they worked, rather than where they live. To apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance,, click here

2. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

PEUC covers individuals who have recently exhausted all rights to regular UI under state or federal law. It provides up to 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. To apply for PEUC, click here and follow the link labeled “File for PEUC”.

3. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)

FPUC covers individuals currently receiving regular UI or PUA, and individuals eligible under PEUC (see above). In addition to regular UI or PUA benefits, eligible individuals will receive an additional $600 per week; however, this additional benefit expired on July 25, 2020.