NJ Voluntary Quit Denied - PUA Eligible or Not (receive, claim, payment)

[Faerie20]

Thank you in advance for reading my situation and helping in any way that you can. Need some guidance please...

Was on maternity leave and expected to return on 4/1/2020. Had child care arrangements set up for my return. They backed out due to COVID-19 in early March. I immediately told my job that I lost my child care arrangements and resigned because it took a long time to acquire proper child care (child has a medical condition) and I knew I wouldn’t find someone else during the pandemic in less than 2 weeks. Everywhere was closing or not taking children under 1 year old. The state of NJ shut down 10 days after I quit.

Filed my NJ unemployment claim on 4/12/2020. Said I voluntarily quit due to COVID-19 child care closure. Received one benefit payment then it stopped. Received denial letter a week or so later. “You are disqualified for benefits from 3/1/2020 and will continue to be disqualified until you have worked eight or more weeks in employment and have earned at least ten times your weekly benefit rate. Since your reason for leaving. Was personal, it does not constitute good cause attributable to the work. You are disqualified from benefits”

I hired an unemployment attorney and we appealed it. The appeal was denied as well for the same reason. I still continue to certify weekly. Today I re-opened my claim. My attorney believes I should be approved for benefits. If not regular UI, then definitely PUA.

My questions are:
1) Will I qualify for PUA? If so, is it automatic or do I have to try and speak to an agent?
2) I reopened my claim today online - will I get paid for weeks certified going forward? Or all of the ones I already certified for since 4/18? I understand if I’m on a penalty hold/8 weeks I won’t get back pay. Everything is so confusing with the PUA rules and pandemic situation.

I have a cousin who quit her job way before I did (she quit in middle of 2019 because she “didn’t want to work there anymore”) and she filed/got denied/now is receiving PUA benefits. I need help getting PUA if I’m qualified. Please help. Thank you!

[Rabrrita]

Even if you get PUA benefits now, that does not mean they wont decide later you were not qualified and come after you for all their money back. Many people who are receiving federal benefits (not state alone) may find themselves in for a nasty surprise once the dust settles and they can examine/audit claims versus rush-rush to get them paid.

Since you're paying an attorney to get nothing, might as well keep paying them in hopes their luck changes.

[Faerie20]

I was wondering that, too (how so many people are getting PUA for quitting their jobs and whether or not it would come back to haunt them in an audit). Well I guess I’ll see what happens. My lawyer is going to send a letter to the Board of Review. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate your help!!