Pandemic Related Unemployment Benefits Have Ended. Now What?
On September 4th, the pandemic-related unemployment benefits offered by the federal government ended. Those included:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), for many left out of traditional unemployment;
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which extended the weeks for regular unemployment;
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), an additional $300 a week for all claimants; and
- Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC), an additional $100 to certain workers.
It’s a loss for so many vulnerable individuals and families struggling to put food on the table. In Massachusetts alone, more than 300,000 people have been impacted. There are many reasons individuals who lost unemployment are not able to access work right now – including child care barriers, lack of access to remote work jobs for those who are immunocompromised, concerns regarding the Delta variant of COVID-19, and more. For those who are able to access work, the hours or pay may not be consistent or pay a living wage. Benefits from the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) are a critical tool to ensure individuals and families can put food on the table.
So now what? (more…)
MLRI Applauds the American Rescue Plan Act
Last month, President Biden signed the $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan Act. The law will not only provide much-needed support to the American people as we all continue to manage hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will also lead to a substantial reduction in poverty in this country.
The American Rescue Plan Act recognizes a fundamental reality – this pandemic has been particularly difficult on already vulnerable individuals and families. People living in poverty, Black and Brown communities, and immigrant families all have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19. The rescue plan means more resources and opportunities for those communities, which will in turn mean better public health and economic outcomes for all of us – because we are one society, one economy – and collective success and opportunity benefits everyone.
In particular, the new law – which was introduced by President Biden on the first day he assumed the Presidency and finally passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate in March – will have a tremendously positive impact on child poverty in this country. (more…)