As federal lawmakers work toward a new coronavirus relief bill this week, most states have begun or will soon begin giving out some enhanced unemployment payments, in smaller amounts than the $600 that expired in July.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has so far approved all but four states to provide supplemental federal unemployment payments to Americans who have lost work or had their wages reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to provide up to $400 in weekly unemployment aid to out-of-work Americans.
Workers in 42 states will receive $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits for at least three weeks. Four — Kentucky, Montana, Vermont and West Virginia — have indicated they will provide an additional $100 for a total of $400 in benefits for those who qualify.
The four states that have not yet been approved are Delaware, Nebraska, Nevada and South Dakota. The government in South Dakota said it won’t apply for the aid, noting that about 80% of its workforce has recovered. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said he’s still analyzing the costs.
Only a few states have already begun paying out the enhanced unemployment payments. Most will begin later this month or October. California, Iowa and Minnesota expect to begin this week or next.
Trump’s executive order was met with some resistance from governors who said their state budgets couldn’t afford an increase in unemployment payouts for an extended period of time.
The states are giving out the aid as a stopgap measure as House Democrats negotiate with the White House for a new stimulus deal. The House and Senate have come up with separate plans for new COVID-19 relief and last week said they’re still far apart on key details.
House Democrats, led by Pelosi, have pushed in their relief bill to reintroduce the $600 weekly payments, as well as funding for schools, rental assistance, health providers and small businesses. Republicans have favored smaller unemployment payments.
Meanwhile, a vote on a temporary government funding bill is also expected this week following an informal agreement late last week between Pelosi and Mnuchin. Both parties committed to a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown and be free of certain policy riders that have halted progress on other bills while the two sides continue to negotiate on a COVID-19 relief bill.
–UPI contributed to this report.
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