MADISON, WI (WSAU) – The U.S. Department of Labor reversed an earlier decision, which will allow Wisconsinites who are on disability to also qualify for unemployment benefits.
The Labor Department told the state’s Department of Workforce Development that people with disabilities are eligible to receive pandemic-related unemployment payments as well. The federal government changed its interpretation of Wisconsin state law.
Governor Tony Evers and Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman had argued that those on disability who don’t qualify for state unemployment shouldn’t be excluded from additional federal payments that were part of a Coronavirus relief package that was passed by Congress earlier this year. The so-called “PUA” program also extends federal payments to those who are self-employed, work part-time of “gig” jobs, or otherwise don’t qualify for traditional unemployment. Those benefits will now be extended to the disabled as well.
Frostman said in a written statement that he is thankful for the change from federal regulators.
The decision is retroactive to February 8, or the last week that an applicant worked.
