LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Help is on the way for thousands of Nevadans who rely on unemployment benefits like PUA. This coming after President Trump signed a COVID-19 relief bill yesterday. But that help is facing delays.
41 weeks and counting. Summer Shields has not seen any PUA money from DETR after making claims and getting approval letters.
“My finalization and my process are based on a human, the adjudication department and they only have so many people and they’re doing the best they can,” she said.
But Shields is more hopeful now after President Trump signed a second COVID-19 relief bill. The bill bringing more money to fund unemployment benefits and $600 stimulus checks.
“That can put some food on a lot of tables and if they spend it wisely and mindful of their spending,” she said.
The bill will allow the PUA program to be extended through mid-March. Funding for PUA originally expired on Saturday. Shields remains optimistic despite her financial anxiety.
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“No matter your political affiliation, our government is truly doing everything they can to help us and coming up with funding for something of this magnitude,” she said.
DETR is warning that benefits from the bill will be delayed up to two weeks as they wait to receive instruction from the federal government. Shields believes more stimulus money would help people like her but remains hopeful for solutions.
“Pray for them. Pray for the people in charge. Pray that they find solutions to give us more and help the economy more,” she said.
Shields says she’s encouraged about getting her PUA benefits eventually after getting a personal response from the lieutenant governor’s office about her situation.
