Welcome to the Office of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (OPUA) in the FSM!

OPUA is a newly established office under the Department of Finance and Administration (DoFA) tasked to implement the “Pandemic Unemployment Assistance” (PUA) – Program provided by the United States Department of Labor to the FSM.

What is PUA?

The PUA program provides temporary benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of COVID-19. PUA is payable beginning from the week ending February 08, 2020 and ending on or before the week of December 26, 2020.  The duration of PUA benefits payable to an individual is generally limited to 39 weeks. The maximum weekly benefit amount for the FSM is 166 USD per week. Available earnings might be deducted from that amount.

Payments Program

Who is eligible for PUA?

To be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), the applicant must provide self-certification that he or she is able to work and available for work, and that he/she is unemployed, partially employed, or unable or unavailable to work due to one of these COVID-19-related situations:

• Diagnosed with COVID-19 or having symptoms of it and trying to get diagnosed
• A member of the household has been diagnosed with COVID-19
• Providing care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19
• Providing care for a child or other household member who can’t go to school or to a care facility because it’s closed due to COVID-19
• Being quarantined or having been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine
• Was scheduled to start a job and no longer have the job or can’t reach the job due to COVID-19
• Became the primary earner for a household because the head of household died as a direct result of COVID-19
• Had to quit the job as a direct result of COVID-19
• The place of employment is closed as a direct result of COVID-19

How to Apply?

Application forms can be downloaded from this website and are available in all OPUA locations in the 4 States of FSM. The application form must be fully completed and either returned by email or  handed in person to one of the OPUA offices. OPUA staff can assist in filling the forms.

The initial application will be reviewed by OPUA staff and the applicant will receive a notice of determination within a period of 3 weeks.

If found eligible, PUA payments are backdated to the day the person was laid off or on reduced working hours resulting in a reduction income. PUA beneficiaries must file a weekly claim at the OPUA office in order to continue receiving the benefits.

Appeals

If you have been found ineligible you have the right to request for reconsideration or an appeal hearing. You do this by completing the Reconsideration and Appeals Form and emailing or dropping the form of at the OPUA Office. You must complete this within 10 days of receiving your determination of eligibility.

Please see the Information & Forms sections of this page for further detailed information on PUA.

Important

Knowingly making false statements or omitting material facts to obtain PUA and FPUC benefits will result in a disqualification and repayment of all overpaid PUA/FPUC benefits. Depending on the seriousness of the offense, you may be subject to Criminal Prosecution.