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The sequence of seven consecutive months of job growth have ended, as the country 140,000 jobs lost in December. These layoffs come at a time when over 19 million Americans still receive unemployment benefits.
The good news? Help is on the way. the A $ 900 billion stimulus package was enacted last month Bring back enhanced weekly unemployment benefits: Americans on state unemployment lists will receive $ 300 per week in enhanced federal benefits, in addition to state benefits, for up to 11 weeks.
While the $ 300 payments are down from the $ 600 per week provided by the CARES Act through July 2020, it is still much needed help in helping unemployed Americans make ends meet.
But when you might get paid depends on where you live. Here is what you need to know.
When will the $ 300 unemployment checks start to roll out?
The enhanced unemployment checks of $ 300 will be issued for the week ended December 27 through the week ending March 13. But the timing for when the $ 300 unemployment benefit actually begins to flow will vary depending on the state’s unemployment system.
Shortly after the adoption of the package, New York (which has the second highest number of unemployed on the unemployment lists) announced $ 300 checks will start for the week of January 3, 2021. The state has kept its promise and has already started issuing checks for $ 300. Other states that have already followed include Arizona, California, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. Some states – like Connecticut, Minnesota, and Washington – say the payments will be released soon. Other states that have not provided details of their plans are expected to do so in the coming days.
The good news? If states delay sending unemployment benefits of $ 300, benefits will be refunded for the weeks ending between December 27 and March 13. Americans who are eligible for enhanced unemployment benefits of $ 300 will eventually get it.
Who is eligible for checks for $ 300?
The CARES law, adopted in March, expanding eligibility for unemployment benefits to include unemployed part-time workers, self-employed workers, freelancers and independent contractors. Those unemployed Americans covered by Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, as well as anyone on traditional unemployment lists, will automatically receive the new weekly federal benefit of $ 300.
Those who qualify will receive the additional $ 300 per week, regardless of their previous salary. This is in addition to their unemployment insurance benefits. For example, a worker in New York who receives the state’s maximum benefit of $ 504 per week would receive a total of $ 804 per week.
What about pandemic benefits like PUA and PEUC?
Stimulus bill extends benefit dates for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) – which expands the number of people eligible for unemployment benefits, including U.S. on-demand and self-employed workers – and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which grants 13 weeks of additional benefits to qualified people after exhausting 26 weeks of standard unemployment insurance.
Passage of the bill means PUA and PEUC will run until March 13, 2021 and PEUC will be reduced from 13 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks.
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