Scared by question in PUA application (apply, qualify, fill, work)

[Zephyr102]

i folks,

I'm in California and work as a self-employed writer/editor/translator. When Covid hit, my clients (mostly non-profits) all froze freelance projects; while other clients (grad students etc) are broke & scrambling. I've made $40 in the last two months, which has been very distressing.

I'm applying to PUA right now and went through the whole process. However, I hit two potential problems right at the end:

1. I get "Select the option for how you were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic" and none of the options quite fit. I guess the closest is "You are an independent contractor with reportable income (ex. IRS Form 1099) and you are forced to stop working because COVID-19 has severely limited your ability to continue performing your customary work activities" , but even that isn't strictly true as I'm mostly paid on a cash basis (I have a schedule C tax return for proof of income, etc).

But I'm terrified that if I choose "none of these apply to me", I'll get rejected (even though I'm explaining the specifics in a little window). What do I pick?

2. For "How many hours did you work per week prior to the disaster?", it varies wildly. Sometimes it's 20, sometimes it's 60, sometimes it's somewhere in between. The average is probably around 33-ish, but I'm worried I'll get rejected if I write less than 40. What do I do?

Thanks so much, this is all very scary because I may not be able to stay housed without this assistance.

[anon25]

Pick the answer you chose, it fits, you have loss of work due to Covid 19. If you don't choose one you will be rejected. Use your average 33 weeks.

[kaceyellis]

Originally Posted by Zephyr102

i folks,

I'm in California and work as a self-employed writer/editor/translator. When Covid hit, my clients (mostly non-profits) all froze freelance projects; while other clients (grad students etc) are broke & scrambling. I've made $40 in the last two months, which has been very distressing.

I'm applying to PUA right now and went through the whole process. However, I hit two potential problems right at the end:

1. I get "Select the option for how you were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic" and none of the options quite fit. I guess the closest is "You are an independent contractor with reportable income (ex. IRS Form 1099) and you are forced to stop working because COVID-19 has severely limited your ability to continue performing your customary work activities" , but even that isn't strictly true as I'm mostly paid on a cash basis (I have a schedule C tax return for proof of income, etc).

But I'm terrified that if I choose "none of these apply to me", I'll get rejected (even though I'm explaining the specifics in a little window). What do I pick?

2. For "How many hours did you work per week prior to the disaster?", it varies wildly. Sometimes it's 20, sometimes it's 60, sometimes it's somewhere in between. The average is probably around 33-ish, but I'm worried I'll get rejected if I write less than 40. What do I do?

Thanks so much, this is all very scary because I may not be able to stay housed without this assistance.

Hey there... it would be easier if you kept all your entries for this one issue in one post

this one here... that you started asking all the questions about:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/unem...ualify-me.html

I think you are being a bit too pedantic with regards the questions...

DID you fill out a 1099? if so... then click that one. If they ask for a schedule C, then you have one to provide them.

As for hours... average it - take everything you made last year... divide by how much you make an hour and whatever that number is... is the average.
I dont know if they look at a base period for the PUA or not (im thinking maybe they do) then average out how many you made during that period.

I dont think it matters if you have less than 40 hours.. it says if your income is considerably diminished (or something like that) - and if it is... then it is.

And if you are denied, you can appeal.

[Zephyr102]

Thanks! I figured I'd start a new post, since the questions are different and specifically about the application, but point taken.

Well, that's the thing - I didn't fill out a 1099, but I guess that if I pick "none of the above" it'll be a red flag in their system. So I suppose that'll have to be it!

Thanks again.

[kaceyellis]

Originally Posted by Zephyr102

Thanks! I figured I'd start a new post, since the questions are different and specifically about the application, but point taken.

Well, that's the thing - I didn't fill out a 1099, but I guess that if I pick "none of the above" it'll be a red flag in their system. So I suppose that'll have to be it!

Thanks again.

So if you choose the 1099 one... and they cant find one.. or they have more questions, they will get in contact with you and you can tell them you have a schedule C.