Senate bill would make gig workers permanently eligible for unemployment $250 ‘Jobseeker Allowance’ would be paid to workers who don’t qualify for traditional unemployment 0 13 3 minutes read Two Democratic senators have introduced a bill that would offer gig workers a $250 unemployment benefits as part of an overhaul of unemployment insurance. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate last week would provide up to $250 in weekly unemployment benefits to gig workers. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, introduced the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act. The 106-page bill seeks to overhaul current unemployment insurance benefits, allowing them to fluctuate in amount and length during times of high employment, among other changes. It would also codify jobless benefits to workers who quit for certain reasons, such as the loss of child care.