Here’s what the $900 billion pandemic relief bill could mean for thousands of unemployed Alaskans Published December 28, 2020
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Print article The new $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus bill will provide some of its most critical help in Alaska to the growing number of people who have collected unemployment checks for months, many of whom are behind on rent, credit card payments and other bills. The bill’s $600 stimulus check is less than the $2,000 checks that President Donald Trump and some other leaders in Washington are seeking, though local economists say even that amount of money, in addition to an extra $300 weekly boost to unemployment checks, will help.
Print article United Way of Anchorage is working to get the remaining money for rental and mortgage assistance out the door before a Dec. 30 deadline to avoid having to send any money back to the federal government. As of Thursday, it had about $7 million left, and had disbursed $13 million. “Any way we can find ways to get the most money out possible, that’s what we are doing,” United Way spokesman Jason Grenn said. Over the past few weeks, United Way has been disbursing several hundreds of thousands of dollars per day, and so far has provided checks for more than 6,000 individuals and families.