How frequently must an individual self-certify that he or she is unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19?

An individual does not need to certify each week that he or she is “unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.” The individual instead must certify once per claim:

• If the individual qualified for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, he or she is presumed to have met the self-certification requirements.
• If the individual already self-certified that he or she is unemployment or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, he or she already meet the self-certification requirements even if this certification was prior to August 1, 2020.
• For individuals with new or reopened/additional unemployment claims, the self-certification can generally be done at the time of the claim filing. States, territories and the District of Columbia with procedures that ask claimants if their separation is due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of their initial application will meet this requirement.
• For individuals with an existing unemployment claim, who have not provided a self-certification due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, will need to provide a one-time special certification as of the supplemental lost wages assistance program start date.