New $300 weekly federal unemployment benefits start to reach Americans in need kvia.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kvia.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.
During the week ending January 9, weekly initial jobless claims soared to 965,000, the highest level since mid-August 2020. Continuing claims, which lag initial jobless claims by one week, rose by 199,000 in the week ending January 2. The labor market is struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as many states tighten business restrictions. Read More ›
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.