At the time of this post it is three weeks since benefits expired for many Pennsylvanian's. For many, PUA benefits stopped on December 26, 2020 whether their claims were exhausted or not. Despite an agreement being reached with a new federal stimulus package, Pennsylvania has yet to implement the PUA and PUEA extension leaving many to wonder: where are my benefits?

The federal government has new requirements for PUA and PEUC, including increased verification of benefits.

A spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry said the state has to revamp the computer system that issues benefits for the programs, and that could also delay the extra $300 per week that people might be expecting with those benefits.

State officials said there's no timetable for when PUA and PEUC payments will resume.

People who have questions should email uchelp@pa.gov.

Since our inception there have been websites popping up attempting to pass themselves off as the US Press Association.

We would say "we are flattered" if it wasn't so damaging!

The facade that is put up by some of these websites is very elaborate. There are interconnected webs of "press agencies" offering to sell you a fake card they call a "press pass". They list their "publications" in an effort to give the site legitimacy. The fact is, these "publications" are just a lure to get people to think they could actually be part of a "pseudo media conglomerate". All this type of site wants to do is attract enough people to use their work to make it look like they are actually doing something. That is never the issue with the US Press Association, THE USPA. We focus on driving visitors, viewers and listeners to your site or social media profile, because joining our organization is about bringing out the best in you not us.

Fact is, these people have no idea what they are doing. Sure, they have convinced enough people to buy their bogus product and if you go to their site you'll see some members. These numbers pale in comparison to the vast member base that has chosen to trust us, the original, the authentic, The US Press Association. These bogus sites and their operators desperately want to know he we operate.

Why do they want to know? Well the answer is simple, we have been dedicated to serving and assisting freelance and professional journalists and others involved in media for close to two decades now. These pop-up websites have been around for weeks, some have managed to deceive their way into a few years of operation. 

This surge in fake "press agencies" is creating a lasting mark on the integrity of freelance and even professional media organizations.

So many of these websites are really just one big web owned and controlled by a few people.

They create a business structure and set up a registered agent office in a state like Nevada, meanwhile they are nowhere to be found within the United States, instead they reside elsewhere in countries like Germany, Russia and several others. Of course, being a resident of these other countries is not an issue, the issue lies within the deceptive web in which they cast to catch unsuspecting individuals.

These fake sites tend to lure people with tempting phrases like "get your backstage pass". Any practicing journalist, photographer, videographer can tell you that simply having writing, video, photo access does NOT give you backstage access. We believe in being honest with our members and try to educate those that may just be starting out in the field about what is expected of them when we help them secure press passes for specific places or events.

"We need to take a stance against this type of deceptive practice"

We won't lure, lie or cheat to obtain members. Our members are here because they made a solid and informed decision about the organization they wished to become part of. Please stand with us and you can rest assured that we will always have the best interest of our members in mind. 

Stand with us. Become a member today...

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