Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) was a temporary federal program created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provided a $100/week supplement to workers who received regular UI benefits AND had at least $5,000 in net self-employment income in the prior tax year.
Who MEUC was designed for
MEUC targeted workers with mixed income: those who had W-2 wages that made them eligible for regular UI, but who also had substantial self-employment or gig income that was not considered in the standard UI benefit calculation. Standard UI only uses W-2 wages; MEUC recognized that workers with significant 1099 income received proportionally less replacement income from regular UI.
Current status
MEUC expired on September 6, 2021, along with the other pandemic-era federal UI enhancements (PUA, PEUC, FPUC). As of 2026, there is no active MEUC program. Workers with mixed W-2 and 1099 income are currently covered only by regular state UI — which uses only W-2 wages for the benefit calculation — and the self-employment portion of their income is not compensated by any active federal program.
What workers with mixed income can do now
If you have mixed W-2 and 1099 income, file for regular UI based on your W-2 wages. The state will calculate a benefit using those wages, which may be lower than your actual income replacement need. There are currently no active federal supplements for this gap. Monitor DOL.gov for any future emergency program activations in the event of a new economic crisis or declared emergency.
What MEUC can tell us about future programs
MEUC was created quickly in response to a recognized gap in the system. If a major recession or emergency triggers new federal UI enhancements, a MEUC-like supplement for mixed-income workers is a likely component of any expanded program, based on the precedent. Workers with mixed income should monitor for new legislation when economic conditions deteriorate significantly.