California
Related: About this forumCalifornia could create its own $600 weekly unemployment benefit
SACRAMENTO As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to damage the California economy, state lawmakers are weighing whether to provide a supplemental unemployment benefit with the extra $600 per week provided by the federal government expiring this month.
Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), the leader of a legislative working group, said there is support among Democratic lawmakers for providing up to $600 weekly to jobless Californians if Congress fails to act on extending the federal pandemic benefit.
There are so many people who are relying on that money to pay rent, to buy food. I think the state has to do everything possible to help them pay their bills, said Ting, chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee.
With the end of the federal supplement on July 25, state unemployment checks will go back to the weekly average of $340 unless the state or federal government restore supplemental benefits.
Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-07-28/california-coronavirus-unemployment-benefit-congress
jorgevlorgan
(8,277 posts)Trusting the GOP to do the right thing is like trusting CBP to not violate your constitutional rights at a protest.
stopbush
(24,392 posts)in the nation, especially when you factor in the CoL.
My family would certainly benefit. Were sweating bullets here over the Senate dicking around with this.
That said, the article seems to be saying that CA would raise its max weekly rate, not add $600 on top of what the state is currently paying. The difference between $600 and $450+$600 is a big difference.
MichMan
(11,864 posts)People find themselves unemployed all the time, not just now in this pandemic.
This is the very first time that there has been any federal supplement. Next year, when people are unemployed due to downsizing etc., there will be no federal extra $$ added on.
In the 2009 recession, with rapid job loss, while the length of time one could draw benefits was extended, the amounts never were. I like many others received less than 25% of my normal income for an entire year. The same max benefit in my state, of $362 in 2009, is still unchanged 11 years later.
stopbush
(24,392 posts)here in CA over the past 15 years. That low UI benefit doesnt do much when rent alone is $36,000 a year.