The unemployed will receive the federal incentive of $ 300 in weekly payments for the entire 11 weeks, the Department of Labor said. In addition, those in two pandemic unemployment programs will receive benefits for the last week of the year.
The duration of benefits was questioned at the end of last week, with some Democratic lawmakers and policy experts worried that the unemployed would miss some payments due to the delay in signing. States cannot provide benefits for weeks after a bill comes into effect.
“As states are implementing these new provisions as quickly as possible, the department does not expect eligible applicants to lose a week of benefits due to the time the law is enacted,” the Department of Labor said in a statement.
Still, most unemployed Americans may have to wait a few weeks before state agencies reschedule the package’s provisions on their computers. But the benefits will be retroactive to the end of December.
According to the aid package, the unemployed will receive a $ 300 federal increase in weekly benefits until March 14.
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program initially expanded unemployment benefits for concert workers, freelancers, independent contractors, self-employed workers and certain people affected by the coronavirus for up to 39 weeks.
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program initially provided 13 extra weeks of payments to those who exhausted their regular state benefits.
Both programs will now close for new applicants on March 14, but continue through April 5 for existing applicants who have not yet reached the maximum number of weeks.
Although some states have more disruptions in payments, unemployed New Yorkers will begin receiving their payments next week, as the state Department of Labor has proactively prepared for the enactment of the aid package, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. market.