Back to Work Bonus Act

To provide relief to workers impacted by COVID–19 and support for reopening businesses, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Back to Work Bonus Act 2. Time-limited back-to-work bonuses (a) In general Section 2104(b) of the Cares Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9023(b) (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Back-to-work bonuses (A) In general Any agreement under this section may also provide that the State agency of the State may make a one-time lump sum payment to each individual who— (i) was eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under paragraph (1) for any week beginning after the date of enactment of the Back to Work Bonus Act (ii) is no longer so eligible (as determined by the State), as a result of earnings due to commencing employment; and (iii) as verified by the individual’s employer pursuant to subparagraph (E)— (I) has been employed by a non-governmental employer throughout the individual’s qualifying period; (II) is employed for wages equivalent to an annual salary of not more than $75,000; and (III) remains employed with an intent to continue such employment. (B) Amount A payment made to an individual under this paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum amount of— (i) $1,200 in the case of an individual who on average is working at least 30 hours or more per week during the qualifying period; or (ii) $600 in the case of an individual who on average is working at least 20 hours or more per week, but less than 30 hours, during the qualifying period. (C) Qualifying period For purposes of this paragraph, the term qualifying period (i) beginning on the date the individual commenced employment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and (ii) extending at least 4 consecutive weeks from such date. (D) Duration No lump sum payment may be made to any individual under this paragraph with respect to a qualifying period beginning on or after July 1, 2021. (E) Employer verification Before making a lump sum payment to an individual pursuant to this paragraph, a State agency shall require verification from the individual’s employer— (i) of the individual’s employment status; (ii) of the wages paid to the individual during the qualifying period; and (iii) of the hours worked by the individual during the qualifying period. (F) Limitation A State may not provide more than one payment under this paragraph to an individual. (G) Special rule Payments made pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph shall not be considered to violate the withdrawal requirements of section 303(a)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(5) section 3304(a)(4) . (b) Conforming amendments Section 2104 of such Act is amended— (1) in subsections (d) and (f), by inserting , payments under subsection (b)(4), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (2) in subsection (g)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (3) the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section, as such provisions apply with respect to payments under subsection (b)(4), shall be applied with respect to unemployment benefits described in subsection (i)(2) to the same extent and in the same manner as if those benefits were regular compensation. . 3. Accelerated funding increase for reemployment services and eligibility assessments Section 314(g)(1)(D) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 645(g)(1)(D) (1) in clause (i), by striking $133,000,000 $433,000,000 (2) in clause (ii), by striking $258,000,000 $433,000,000 4. Eligibility for reemployment services (a) CARES Act (1) Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Section 2102 of the Cares Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9021 (i) Eligibility for reemployment services Pandemic unemployment assistance under this section shall be treated as unemployment compensation for the purposes of section 306 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 506 . (2) Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Section 2107 of the Cares Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9025 (h) Eligibility for reemployment services Pandemic emergency unemployment compensation under this section shall be treated as unemployment compensation for the purposes of section 306 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 506 . (b) Social Security Act Section 306(a) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 506(a) (1) by striking individuals referred to reemployment services as described in section 303(j) claimants for unemployment compensation, including claimants referred to reemployment services as described in section 303(j), (2) by striking such individuals such claimants 5. Reinstating federal work search requirement (a) In general Section 4102(b) of the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act ( 26 U.S.C. 3304 work search, with respect to (b) Effective date The amendment made under subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Summary: Back to Work Bonus Act This bill permits states to provide a one-time lump sum payment, through July 1, 2021, to individuals who (1) were eligible for COVID-19 pandemic unemployment compensation during any week after enactment of this bill, and (2) are no longer eligible as a result of becoming thereafter reemployed. Payments of $1,200 shall be paid to individuals who work at least 30 hours and $600 to individuals who work at least 20 hours but less than 30. The payments are available for claimants (1) who are not employed by a government entity, (2) who return to work for at least four consecutive weeks, and (3) whose annual salary does not exceed $75,000. Before receipt of a payment, the individuals' employers must verify their hours and earnings. Additionally, the bill (1) accelerates a scheduled increase in funding for reemployment services and eligibility assessments (RESEA), (2) allows states to use RESEA funds to serve all workers receiving unemployment benefits, and not just those most likely to exhaust their benefits; and (3) allows states to provide reemployment services to individuals receiving pandemic unemployment assistance and pandemic emergency unemployment compensation. Finally, the bill reinstates the requirement that unemployment claimants certify they are able, available, and actively seeking work.