Massachusetts Disburses Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Benefits to Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claimants and Standard Unemployment Insurance Claimants-Additional 2 Weeks of LWA Benefits Approved by FEMA

The Commonwealth’s application to receive grant funding to pay a limited additional weekly unemployment benefit to claimants under the federal Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance (LWA) program for the 6 weeks ending 8/1/20, 8/8/20, 8/15/20, 8/22/20, 8/29/20, 9/5/20 has been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The applications were submitted by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), in coordination with the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). 

Eligible Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claimants had already received the first three weeks of LWA payments and the additional 2 weeks of benefits will be processed beginning Wednesday, September 9th. Disbursements to eligible standard Unemployment Insurance (UI) beneficiaries for the full six weeks of additional LWA benefits will begin on Thursday, September 10th and payments are expected to be in claimants bank accounts by Tuesday, September 15th. 

Per FEMA’s authorization, the grant will fund an additional $300 weekly payment to those who are eligible for at least $100 in weekly unemployment benefits for the five weeks The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance continues to work on the technology and business requirements necessary for this program and anticipates being able to quickly deliver retroactive funds to all eligible claimants in the coming weeks. Most eligible claimants currently receiving benefits do not need to take any action because the Commonwealth will automatically add LWA to their weekly benefit payment retroactive to the dates specified in the grant.