Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Question:

Can I receive PUA if I receive VA benefits compensation and pension?

 

Jim's Reply:

I don't know. It'll depend on a lot of factors including where you are. Some Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) programs have ended although appeals options are open.

I don't know where you are and to complicate things even further, you ask about VA compensation and pension and those are mutually exclusive benefits. While we often enough refer to VA Comp & Pen Benefits, 'comp' is different than 'pen'.
 

VA compensation is a rated monetary award for a disabling condition and VA pension is a means tested benefit for low income, totally disabled veterans. As a rule if you collect a VA disability payment you won't be eligible for the pension benefit.
 

If you are on a VA pension and you were to collect PUA, you may exceed the income limits of your VA pension and see it reduced. Collecting PUA wouldn't affect your VA compensation benefit.
 

The best I can tell you is that the PUA has been through a lot of debate and change over the last many months and to determine availability and eligibility, your best bet is to apply through local channels and see what happens. Good luck sir.

 


Source URL: https://dev.statesidelegal.org/pandemic-unemployment-assistance-pua