In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, many bright spots remain or emerge.  One has been the selflessness of people who are providing support to their community. The Facebook Page “How to Get Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self-Employed Hairstylists” was created by Tyler Turner.  Turner is the former director of operations and technology at Pulp Riot, the former director of new business development at Ergo and is the co-founder of Jupiter, an online direct-to-consumer health and wellness company creating products designed to help people manage stress and anxiety.  With nearly 3,000 members following the updates on the Facebook page, and thousands of enquiries and conversations, Turner has helped stylists navigate this ever-changing landscape and understand how to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program benefits.

As part of the federal CARES Act, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.

"One of the things I learned from Pulp is that the community will help the community but you almost need to create a space of them to do it," Turner says of launching the Facebook page. "And it’s that initial push of creating the information so that it can be shared.  I’m spending an enormous amount of time on the individual state’s websites.”

VIDEO: Tyler Turner is interviewed by MODERN SALON's Anne Moratto

The provisions of the PUA program include:

• Up to 39 weeks of benefits starting with weeks of unemployment beginning February 2, 2020, through the week ending December 26, 2020, depending on when you became directly impacted by the pandemic.

• A new 13-week federal extension for those who run out of their regular state-provided UI benefits (maximum 26 weeks). File a PUA claim and you may be converted to the federal extension once it is available.

Click here for a list of FAQs on PUA.