Extension allows PUA to be processed for CNMI residents

If you're one of the more than 2,000 workers in the CNMI still waiting for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, there's some good news. 

KUAM spoke with Acting Labor Secretary Leila Staffler who shared the details on the long delay for the funds. 

"They have such a complex documentation system that I can see why there are a lot of delays and I can see why there is a lot of confusion in the public about what happens with PUA," she said. 

The new labor secretary said there are still 1,000 people being processed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and another 1,400 on appeal. But, the good news about the program, which was supposed to end in June, is that it was granted an extension to June 2024 to allow for PUA staff to process those cases. 

"I know that it is very frustrating for the community but I wanted to assure everyone that the money for PUA is there and if you have a case that is waiting, it will be addressed," Staffler said.

Another cause of the delay is staff employment. 

"Because PUA is not a long-term program the way that they renew people is in short increments and so they can not have a working contract longer than three months," she said. 

She said that creates instability for employees who decide to seek other jobs, leaving a case file for someone new to pick up, basically restarting the process. 

Meanwhile, Staffler, who just finished her first week on the job, is working to keep up with federal requirements, facing delays due to a lack of documentation from the time of former Secretary of Finance David Atalig. 

"We have actually met some of the goals that were set for us from the U.S. side to reach 50% of U.S. workers employed, we are at 52% and we would love to see that number continue to grow," she said. 

She said now is the right time to get help applying for jobs at the department of labor. Staffler, a former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor was appointed in an acting capacity by Gov. Arnold Palacios and is expected to undergo a Senate confirmation hearing.