Alaska To Trigger Into Payable High Unemployment Period (Hup), Extending Benefits For Those Eligible

June 23, 2020
No. 20-21

JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Tamika Ledbetter announced today that Alaska will trigger into a payable High Unemployment Period (HUP) beginning the week of July 5, 2020.

Alaska’s Insured Unemployment Rate exceeded 8 percent, which is 110 percent greater than that of the corresponding rate in both prior years. Therefore, Alaska meets the threshold to trigger into a HUP payment period. This extends Extended Benefits (EB) eligibility from a possible 13 weeks to 20 weeks for eligible individuals. Those who have already applied for EB benefits will not need to complete an additional application for HUP entitlement. They will receive a letter of monetary determination in the mail.

Individuals with remaining balances of regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) or Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will continue to draw those benefits until they are exhausted. Upon exhaustion, workers will be able to apply for EB/HUP to continue their benefit payments if they have not done so already.

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