PUA

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

PUA
Stands forPandemic Unemployment Assistance
Meanings2
CategoriesGovernment & Politics, Business & Finance

PUA has two meanings. It stands for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (public program) or Paid-up additions (insurance).

Meanings of PUA at a glance

#PUA stands forContext
1Pandemic Unemployment AssistanceGovernment & Politics › Public Program
2Paid-up additionsBusiness & Finance › Insurance

1. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Government & Politics · Public Program Abbreviations

Temporary federal unemployment program created by the CARES Act in March 2020 that covered self-employed people, gig workers, independent contractors and others not eligible for regular state benefits. It ended nationally in September 2021.

Example: As a rideshare driver, he collected PUA for more than a year during the pandemic.

States administered PUA with little time to build systems, and because early rules relied on self-certification, it became a major target of identity fraud; investigations and prosecutions continued years later. Some states ended participation early in mid-2021, citing labor shortages.

2. Paid-up additions

Business & Finance · Insurance Abbreviations

Small blocks of fully paid whole life insurance purchased with policy dividends or extra premiums, each adding to both the death benefit and cash value.

Example: We direct dividends to PUAs so the coverage grows every year.

PUA riders are central to "infinite banking" strategies promoted for policy loans, which critics consider oversold.

More public program abbreviations

  • OPT – Optional Practical Training
  • PHA – Public housing agency
  • PPP – Paycheck Protection Program
  • PSLF – Public Service Loan Forgiveness
  • PWA – Public Works Administration
  • REA – Rural Electrification Administration
  • SAI – Student Aid Index
  • SAVE – Saving on a Valuable Education plan

See all 65 public program abbreviations →

More insurance abbreviations

  • PD – Property damage liability
  • PI – Professional indemnity insurance
  • PIP – Personal injury protection
  • PL – Public liability insurance
  • RCV – Replacement cost value
  • ROP – Return of premium
  • SIR – Self-insured retention
  • SLI – Supplemental liability insurance

See all 86 insurance abbreviations →