Late on Sunday, December 27
th, after initially raising concerns about the pandemic relief measure that had overwhelmingly passed Congress days before, President Trump signed the measure into law, ending a long political stalemate and beginning the process of sending financial relief to American families and small businesses, further aiding the American economy. As with the CARES Act enacted in March, this bill, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,” passed the House and Senate overwhelmingly, on a bipartisan vote of 359-53 in the House, followed swiftly by a 92-6 vote in the Senate.
1 With an official price tag of approximately $900 billion, it is the second largest stimulus measure ever enacted by Congress.
In total, approximately 4,150 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim.
About 16,900 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment, with another 15,100 weekly certifications filed under PUA. In addition, about 9,000 weekly certifications were filed for the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Weekly certifications must be filed by claimants every week in order to continue to receive unemployment benefits.
Maine typically, according to a Department of Labor news release, sees increases in state unemployment claims this time of year due to seasonal layoffs that occur every winter, such as in accommodations, eating and drinking places, construction, landscaping, and temporary help. Some of these industries have seen increased impact due to COVID-19.
SC DEW: Decrease in initial unemployment insurance claims last week
Jan 14, 2021 10:09 AM EST
(Courtesy: SC DEW/Facebook)
SOUTH CAROLINA (WOLO) – The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce reported a decrease in initial unemployment insurance claims for last week.
According to the department, during the week of January 3 – 9, there were 8,635 initial insurance claims for unemployment that were filed.
That’s a decrease of 693 initial claims filed from the previous week of December 27 – January 2, where 9,328 initial claims were filed.
On their intrastate map showing initial unemployment insurance claims by counties, Greenville County had the highest number of claims in the state with 842.
A top Kansas Department of Labor official said Thursday the state was on track in its work to begin paying out expanded unemployment benefits, which were reauthorized under a federal stimulus bill passed late last year.
Roughly two dozen states have begun paying out an extra $300 a week to eligible claimants via the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
Originally authorized under the CARES Act, the program was continued under a federal stimulus package approved in December, with claimants able to receive the expanded benefits for an additional 11 weeks.
Kansas isn t one of the states that has restarted the expanded payments as of yet.