Illinois Unemployment Workers May Or May Not Receive Extra $300

 

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In early August, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order called Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program (LWA), where unemployed workers who are eligible will receive up to $400 a week in unemployment aid. Under the new program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will provide grants to cover the $300. However, each state will have the option of providing the remaining 25% to bring the total to $400.

So far since the (LWA) program has been in affect, Arizona who was the first state approved by FEMA the first week of August, along with 16 other states have already been approved to offer the extra $300 in unemployment benefits. The following states that have been approved by FEMA beginning August,14, 2020 include; California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

Some states including Alabama, Alaska, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington have applied for the extra funds and are waiting on approval. South Dakota declined to participate in the Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program while Midwest states like Minnesota have plans on participating, and Illinois and Wisconsin have yet to make any announcements.

As of last Thursday, August, 20, 2020 the number of unemployment claims went from 15.5 million to 14.8 million. However, the unemployment rate has increased from 971,000 to 1.1 million. In first week of August it was announced that Illinois joined 18 other states in extending unemployment benefits for 20 weeks, but is that enough? Some of those receiving unemployment aid are barely making it on their weekly payments. Since the extra $600 ended in July many unemployed workers are unable to pay their rent, utility bills and other finances that are affecting them economically during this pandemic.

Unfortunately, not every non-worker who receives unemployment benefits will be eligible for the extra funds. According to Huffpost, those who receive at least $100 will receive the extra funds, which means if you are part time and receiving only $80 a week in regular unemployment benefits, you will not be eligible for extra unemployment benefits. This is going to cause another problem for many states, being that those who receive less than $100 need it the most. 

As far as the additional $100 that is optional by state, four states including Kentucky, Missouri, Montana and West Virginia will be giving the extra funds to equal $400 a week in unemployment aid. The rest of the states that are participating in the program will not be contributing the extra $100.

Tamara M. Anderson

@mstekeyla