If you are a self-employed Tennesean, the following steps will help you navigate the application process on Jobs4TN.gov for PUA.
File for PUA – Tennessee
First, mark that you are self-employed & filing for reasons related to the pandemic.
Job Title
Type in a job title that closest fits your current job duties.
Use one of the populated job titles in the drop-down box.
Job Occupation
Make a similar selection in the Job Occupation drop-down menu.
Select “Yes” in this box:
Employer Search
If you have been self-employed for the last 18 months, please type”Self-Employed” in the employer search.
If you have received a W-2 from an employer within the past 18 months, please add that employer. After typing “Self-Employed”, click “Search”. Then, click “I don´t see it in this list”:
Click “OK” on the box that pops up:
Click “I don´t see it in this list” again:
When you are completing yor work history, please remember that Unemployment is built for covered employed, and claimants usually are W-2 workers whose employers pay into the UI fund for those claimants.
When you complete the work history, you are going to receive a wage and separation request asking you for the reason that the claimant is separated. You do not need to send this information back.
Put “Self-Employed in the employer´s name & complete the form with your business´s information.
Click on the blue link in this section & locate an industry code that closest fits the type of work that you do.
In our example, I am a restaurant owner.
Type “Self-Employed” in this section:
Once you have completed the work history, select “No” on the next screen & click “Next”.
Base Period Employment Information
You will not see any base period wages. You will also receive a monetary determination stating you are not elegible.
This is not a denial of benefits. It is just telling you that you do not have wages for normal UI. The department will take your claim and check for eligibility under PUA.
You will receive a monetary determination similar to this as soon as your claim is completed.
This does not mean you were denied for PUA.