Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
Apr 29, 2021 | 9:15 AM
During the week of April 18-24, a total of 215 initial weekly claims for state unemployment benefits were processed by the Department of Labor and Regulation. This is a decrease of 120 claims from the prior week’s total of 335.
The latest number of continued state claims is 2,934 for the week ending April 17, a decrease of 160 from the prior week’s total of 3,094. This indicates the number of unemployed workers eligible for and receiving benefits after their initial claim.
For the week ending April 24, a total of $613,000 was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $1 million in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), $120,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and $301,000 in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits.
April 29, 2021
State Rep. David LaGrand described what he sees as a disincentive to work under Michigan s current unemployment benefits system.
LaGrand, a Democrat from Grand Rapids, explained at a hearing that the system’s benefits include $362 a week through the state and $300 a week through the federal government. (All unemployed worker benefits are paid for by assessments on employers, according to the National Federation of Independent Business.)
LaGrand estimated that current weekly unemployment benefits (which are higher than normal due to boosted federal payments) equate to about $15-an-hour. He said at an April 27 state House committee meeting that if he sees a help wanted sign at a business offering $11 an hour, “What I’m really being asked to do is work for a $4-an-hour pay cut.”
Pam Taylor
We’re driving forward to a better America. The American Rescue Act, signed by President Joe Biden on March 11, sent $1,400 payments to most Americans. It expanded and extended pandemic unemployment assistance. Federal pandemic unemployment compensation and COBRA subsidies were also extended. The first $10,200 in 2020 unemployment benefits is tax-free for families making $150,000 or less.
The act provides money for housing, including $5 billion to help homeless people. It extended the SNAP benefits increase, included increases in the WIC program, and raised the child-care tax credit. There’s money for elder and child care and rural health-care providers. Multi-employer pension plans were stabilized. More people qualify, and will pay less, for high-quality Affordable Care Act health insurance.
Pierre, SD, USA / DRGNews
Apr 23, 2021 6:45 AM
During the week of April 11-17, a total of 268 initial weekly claims for state unemployment benefits were processed by the Department of Labor and Regulation. This is a decrease of 22 claims from the prior week’s total of 290.
The latest number of continued state claims is 3,064 for the week ending April 10, a decrease of 74 from the prior week’s total of 3,138. This indicates the number of unemployed workers eligible for and receiving benefits after their initial claim.
For week ending April 17, a total of $723,000 was paid out in state benefits, in addition to $1.1 million in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), $137,000 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and $300,000 in Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) benefits.