May 10, 2021
Today the Oregon Employment Department announced the annual change to the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts (WBAs) for regular unemployment insurance (UI). For new regular UI claims filed in Oregon on or after July 4, 2021, minimum and maximum WBAs each will increase by approximately 9%.
The increase will also apply to new PUA claims effective on or after July 4, 2021. This increase will be a significant income boost for new claimants who receive the minimum or maximum WBA. During the most recent quarter, 16% of regular UI recipients received the minimum WBA, and 24% received the maximum WBA.
The 9% increase is the result of growth in Oregon’s average weekly wage during 2020. Starting July 4, the minimum WBA for new regular UI claims will increase by $14, from $157 to $171 per week. The maximum WBA for new regular UI claims and new PUA claims will increase by $60, from $673 to $733 per week. The minimum WBA for new PUA claims will not be affected because it
May 10, 2021
Today the Oregon Employment Department announced the annual change to the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts (WBAs) for regular unemployment insurance (UI). For new regular UI claims filed in Oregon on or after July 4, 2021, minimum and maximum WBAs each will increase by approximately 9%.
The increase will also apply to new PUA claims effective on or after July 4, 2021. This increase will be a significant income boost for new claimants who receive the minimum or maximum WBA. During the most recent quarter, 16% of regular UI recipients received the minimum WBA, and 24% received the maximum WBA.
The 9% increase is the result of growth in Oregon’s average weekly wage during 2020. Starting July 4, the minimum WBA for new regular UI claims will increase by $14, from $157 to $171 per week. The maximum WBA for new regular UI claims and new PUA claims will increase by $60, from $673 to $733 per week. The minimum WBA for new PUA claims will not be affected because it
May 10, 2021
Arkansas, Montana and South Carolina will end their participation in the federal government’s ongoing offer of a $300-per-week supplemental unemployment benefit.
Arkansas and Montana will stop including federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation payments with their state jobless benefits on June 27. South Carolina will terminate the extra $300 weekly payments on June 30.
The checks, included in the third coronavirus stimulus bill passed by Congress, run until Sept. 4, 2021, and they extend unemployment benefits for up to 53 weeks.
In his testimony at a Michigan House hearing last month, Democratic State Rep. David LaGrand explained why some states will no longer pass along the $300 weekly boost. In Michigan, it brings weekly unemployment benefits up to $662 a week, which, he said, is equivalent to working for about $15 an hour.
Nick Oxford/Reuters
Some GOP-led states are opting to end expanded unemployment benefits early to entice workers back.
The move could affect the finances of at least 276,000 people, an unemployment expert told Insider.
Disparate state employment systems may have already caused inequities, especially for Black workers.
At least 276,000 workers are at risk of losing federal unemployment benefits in GOP-led states.
Several states are moving to cut expanded unemployment insurance in an effort to push those collecting jobless benefits to return to work.
The move comes as April s surprisingly dismal jobs report showed just a fraction of anticipated jobs returning, and anecdotal evidence of (generally low-paying) companies having difficulty hiring enough workers to reopen in a fuller capacity.
Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Alabama will end its participation in all federally funded pandemic unemployment compensation programs effective June 19, 2021 including:
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), which provides for an additional $300 weekly payment to recipients of unemployment compensation.Â
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides benefits for those who would not usually qualify, such as the self-employed, gig workers, and part-time workers,
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which provides for an extension of benefits once regular benefits have been exhausted, and
Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), which provides an additional $100 benefit to certain people with mixed earnings.
Any weeks filed prior to and up to June 19 and are eligible under any of the federal program requirements will continue to be processed under these programs.