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Information For SELF-EMPLOYED and INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS – VT Dept of Labor

Element of CARES Act

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): This will allow for unemployment insurance benefits to individuals not eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance, such as the self-employed. Funding will be provided by the federal government and distributed by the state, similar to Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

PUA benefits will be calculated based on a claimants reported prior earnings.

If I am Self-Employed or an Independent Contractor, what are my next steps?

As the Department works to implement the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for Self-Employed individuals, Self-Employed individuals, as well as Independent Contractors, Small Business owners and other sole proprietors, these individuals are encouraged to do one of the following:

  1. Sign up for the CARES ACT: SELF-EMPLOYED INFORMATION NEWSLETTER.
  2. Submit an INITIAL CLAIMS FORM for unemployment insurance benefits. By submitting this form, your information will be already in our system, and you will be notified when the P.U.A. program is up and running.

Learn more from the Vermont Dept of Labor here.