These 12 States Are Ending the Extra $300 Per Week in Unemployment Benefits

These 12 States Are Ending the Extra $300 Per Week in Unemployment Benefits
Photo: fizkes (Shutterstock)

Citing labor shortages, twelve Republican-led states have announced that they’re opting out of the federal government’s unemployment assistance program, which includes a top-up of $300 per week on state employment benefits. Here’s a look at which states are ending the payments, and when they’ll get cut off.

Which states are opting out of federal unemployment assistance?

The following states are opting out of federal unemployment enhancements, which include the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) $300 weekly top-up payment; expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits for gig and part-time workers; the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) 13-week extension of benefits; and the weekly $100 Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) benefit, which goes to people who have a mix of W-2 and unemployment income.

Alabama is dropping all programs and resuming its work-search requirements for recipients, which was paused during the pandemic. The opt-out is effective June 19.Arkansas is ending participation in all COVID-related federal unemployment programs, as of June 26. Gov. Asa Hutchinson has directed the state’s Division of Workforce Services to provide job search assistance for people still receiving unemployment benefits, although exactly what those actions will be remains unclear.
Idaho will end participation in the FPUC $300 top-up, as well as the PUA and PEUC programs (Idaho had already opted out of the MEUC mixed earner benefit), effective June 19. The state also recently reinstated pre-pandemic work search requirements which requires claimants to actively look for jobs.Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, citing more jobs than job seekers, announced on Tuesday that Iowa will end participation in all of the federal supplemental unemployment benefits programs, effective June 12.Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves tweeted Monday that the state will leave the federal program as of June 12.Missouri is following neighboring state Iowa by ending participation in all federal programs, effective June 12.Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte announced that the state will end its participation in federal programs, effective June 26. However, the state is launching a return-to-work program, funded by the American Rescue Plan, which will grant previously unemployed Montanans a $1,200 bonus if they remain steadily employed for at least a month.North Dakota is pulling the state out of all federal unemployment enhancement programs, effective June 19.South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, citing the lowest employment numbers since the pandemic began, announced last week that South Carolina would end federal benefits as of June 30.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that the state will stop participating in the federal programs, as of July 3.Utah will pull out of all programs as of June 26, although the Department of Workforce Services said it’s still offering rent assistance, utility, food and medical bill relief related to COVID hardship (more information can be found here).Wyoming is pulling the state out of all federal unemployment enhancement programs, effective June 19.

G/O Media may get a commission

 

Source Link