By Staff
Despite President Donald Trump signing COVID-19 relief legislation into law, the state Department of Labor on Monday said it will be at least another week before Mainers again receive federal unemployment benefits.
After months of a political stalemate, Congress on Dec. 21 approved the $908 billion emergency aid package. Trump had been expected to approve it a week ago, but delayed taking action until Sunday, after two programs for jobless Americans expired.
As a result, federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation have lapsed for millions of people, including tens of thousands in Maine.
“This interruption in the programs will cause at least a one week delay in people receiving their federal benefits. However, we are relieved that the bipartisan COVID relief package has been signed by the president, Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said in a news release.
Millions in US face weeks without income due to delay in paltry “relief” bill
On Sunday night, President Donald Trump signed a $2.3 trillion bill that combines a $900 billion bipartisan coronavirus “relief” package with a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill. Trump had been withholding his signature, claiming to oppose the minuscule size of the $600 direct payment included in the bill.
In this July 15, 2020, file photo, job seekers exercise social distancing as they wait to be called into the Heartland Workforce Solutions office in Omaha, Neb [Credit: AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File]
The delay in signing the bill has already caused confusion regarding the resumption of unemployment payments to some 14 million people. On Saturday, two programs created by last March’s CARES Act, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, expired. PUA was designed to provide relief for workers who wouldn’t normally qua
Secretary Jennifer Berrier encouraged Pennsylvanians to seek additional help ahead of a gap in benefits caused by delays in federal government approval of new funds.
Who Needs to Know
All employers covered by the FFCRA, employers attempting to recall or hire employees currently receiving unemployment benefits and possibly eligible for extended benefits, and employers who may conduct future furloughs, layoffs, or job eliminations.
Why It Matters
The $900 billion stimulus was passed on the eve of the expiration of several key CARES Act benefits and will have an immediate impact on employers and workers as the calendar turns to 2021.
Late on December 27 and nearly a week after being passed by Congress, President Trump finally signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the Act) into law. In addition to funding the federal government through the end of September 2021, the Act also allocates $900 billion to COVID-19 relief. Employers will find at least two provisions of the Act particularly interesting: an extension of federal unemployment insurance benefits assistance and tax credits for COVID-19-related leave (but no corresponding mandat
New Mexico waits for federal OK to pay extended jobless benefits santafenewmexican.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from santafenewmexican.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.