Lost Wages Assistance program

Overview

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program is a five-week FEMA grant that replaces the recently expired Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program (FPUC), which paid an extra $600 per week to those receiving unemployment benefits. The program pays an additional $300 per week to Idahoans receiving unemployment insurance benefits and who self-certify they are unemployed due to COVID-19.

Payment Details:

  • Payment amount: $300 per week.
  • Payment method: Direct Deposit or Debit Card.
  • Payable on: Weeks claimed from week ending 8/1/2020 through week ending 8/29/2020 due to unemployment caused by COVID-19.
  • Includes reduced benefits due to weekly earnings, pandemic extended unemployment benefits and pandemic unemployment assistance.
  • First payable week: Retroactive to Aug. 1, 2020.
  • Last payable week: Week ending Aug. 29, 2020. Individuals with pending issues preventing payment will receive the additional $300 per week if they are allowed benefits after the program has ended if there are available funds.
  • First payment issue date:
    • Weeks ending 8/1/2020, 8/8/2020, 8/15/2020 and 8/22/2020 were issued during the week ending Sept. 5, 2020
    • Week ending 8/29/2020 issue date were issued the week ending Sept. 12, 2020.
  • Please note: If your current weekly benefit amount is less than $100, and you were found eligible, LWA payments have also been paid.
  • Lost Wage Assistance Program is taxable and will be subject to 10 percent federal withholding tax, if you elected to have taxes withheld from your regular benefits. Find more information about changing your election.
  • Payments may be verified online.

Application Instructions:

  • If you have ever answered that you are unemployed do to COVID-19, no action is needed by you.
  • If you have not answered you have been unemployed due to COIVD-19 or you are unsure if you have answered the question, follow the instructions below.
  • Log into the Claimant Portal
  • Click on ‘Apply Now’ under Lost Wages Assistance in the lower left part of the screen.
  • Answer Yes or No and submit your answer. If the answer is defaulted to a ‘yes’, you have already answered that you are unemployed due to COVID-19 and you do not need to resubmit it to be considered for the Lost Wages Assistance program. However, If your answer is defaulted to yes and you need to change this answer to a no, please contact the department.
  • If you are allowed LWA benefits, payment information will be posted on your Claimant Portal payment summary the following day. If you are denied LWA benefits, you will receive a written determination in the mail.

Fraud Warning

  • If you knowingly make a false statement or fail to disclose information in an attempt to receive LWA benefits you are not entitled, you are committing fraud. Fraud results in a disqualification from benefits, an overpayment of benefits and potential criminal prosecution. Discontinue your weekly reports when you return to full-time employment and notify the department if you refuse to work for any reason.