Unemployment Insurance As Economic Stimulus
Unemployment benefits are designed first to relieve distress for jobless workers and their families. In recessions and the early stages of recoveries, however, they provide an additional benefit: stimulating economic activity and job creation. In fact, a major reason Congress created the basic UI program during the Great Depression was to help boost the economy and jobs.
The problem for most businesses in an economic slump is not lack of capacity to meet existing demand but lack of demand to fully utilize their existing capacity. To stop the destruction of jobs and begin to put people back to work, it is critical to stimulate demand. One of the best ways to do this is to target financial relief toward unemployed workers who need a replacement for lost income. People whose income is disrupted in a recession and who lack the savings to tide them over are the ones most likely to spend quickly any added income they receive. Thus, policies that put customers in stores with money to spend will likely do more to close the output gap and create jobs than, for example, business tax breaks.
A Labor Department report commissioned during the George W. Bush Administration and released in 2010 reinforced CBOs conclusion. It found that in the depths of the Great Recession, federal emergency UI benefits boosted employment by about 750,000 jobs.
How Do I Apply
To receive unemployment insurance benefits, you need to file a claim with the unemployment insurance program in the state where you worked. Depending on the state, claims may be filed in person, by telephone, or online.
- You should contact your state’s unemployment insurance program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed.
- Generally, you should file your claim with the state where you worked. If you worked in a state other than the one where you now live or if you worked in multiple states, the state unemployment insurance agency where you now live can provide information about how to file your claim with other states.
- When you file a claim, you will be asked for certain information, such as addresses and dates of your former employment. To make sure your claim is not delayed, be sure to give complete and correct information.
- It generally takes two to three weeks after you file your claim to receive your first benefit check.
The Great Realization Has Inspired People To Seek Happiness In Their Jobs And Careers
2. Call the appropriate STATE legislator that represents you. They verify you live in their district, so be sure to reach out to the appropriate congressperson. Emails seem to take longer to get a response, so calling is faster as members of State Legislatures have people answering their phones.
3. Tell them your problem with unemployment and ask for their help. The congressmens office will have a designated person inside their office who handles unemployment issues. That person will tell you that they can connect to unemployment on your behalf and that they have been assigned a real person at the unemployment office to work with. They get you info, and then they work their magic. Youll find that they either fix the problem or get someone who can fix it at unemployment to call you. Give them a number you will answer. If it is your cell, be sure the ringer is on as unemployment will only call you once or twice, and if you miss them, there is no number to call them back. Do not miss the call.
4. The problem should get resolved within a week, and all the money due you will then be paid to you retroactive to the day you first filed for unemployment.
Joe emailed to say this strategy of contacting his state representative worked for him. It worked for my relative too, and the other ten people I have advised to try it. They were in different states, and it has been effective. Once your unemployment money starts, you file each week and get paid. Problem solved.
Read Also: Unemployment Ticket Number
Check On Extended Benefits
First, check with your state unemployment office to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you qualify for. During periods of high unemployment, the federal government may provide funds allowing the states to expand unemployment benefits.
The U.S. Department of Labor provides a website to help you locate your state’s unemployment insurance office.
Us Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance On Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the publication of Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 16-20 providing guidance to states for implementation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. Under PUA, individuals who do not qualify for regular unemployment compensation and are unable to continue working as a result of COVID-19, such as self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers, are eligible for PUA benefits. This provision is contained in Section 2102 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act Act enacted on March 27, 2020.
PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable state law, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to COVID-19 related reasons, as defined in the CARES Act. Benefit payments under PUA are retroactive, for weeks of unemployment, partial employment, or inability to work due to COVID-19 reasons starting on or after January 27, 2020. The CARES Act specifies that PUA benefits cannot be paid for weeks of unemployment ending after December 31, 2020.
The UIPL also includes guidance to states about protecting unemployment insurance program integrity. The department is actively working with states to provide benefits only to those who qualify for such benefits.
Read Also: How Do I Sign Up For Unemployment In Tn
‘if You’re Struggling Put Your Pride Aside And Get The Help’
Despite the challenges, people have still volunteered their time and energy to help. And staff are still working tirelessly to get families fed.
Buttars from Wesley said there’s been a push to provide culturally appropriate meals for newcomers to Canada and the organization opened a hydroponic vertical farm inside a building in downtown Hamilton to help offer fresher food to clients.
She added that the global supply chain issue has also led staff to get creative in the kitchen.
“We’ve had to adapt some meals we had planned when we realized the food we ordered hadn’t come in I really credit the folks in our kitchen cooking and adapting,” she said.
Lavallee said she recalls having a phone conversation with a family that just received food.
“The mom was crying and the children in the background, you could hear them shouting ‘We have oranges, we have muffins, we’re so happy’ and the mom was just full of gratitude,” she said.
Lavallee also said many services are also online to try and foster a sense of community. That includes time to speak with elders and knowledge keepers, as well as language and life-skills programs.
As for Hill, she said she doesn’t regret calling Niwasa for help. She says other people shouldn’t hesitate to use a food bank, either.
“If you’re struggling and you need the help, put your pride aside and get the help you need for your family. There’s organizations out there that are willing to help people.”
What Is An Offer Of Suitable Employment And How Is It Connected To Unemployment Insurance Eligibility
Most state unemployment insurance laws include language defining suitable employment. Typically, suitable employment is connected to the previous jobs wage level, type of work, and the claimants skills.
Refusing an offer of suitable employment without good cause will often disqualify individuals from continued eligibility for unemployment compensation.
For example, if an individuals former employer calls the individual back to work after having temporarily laid the individual off for reasons related to COVID-19, the individual would very likely have to accept the offer to return to work, or jeopardize his or her eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits, absent some extenuating circumstance, such as if the individual tested positive for COVID-19. The job an individual held before the spread of COVID-19 will constitute, in the vast majority of cases, suitable employment for purposes of unemployment insurance eligibility.
Don’t Miss: Va Disability Unemployability
How To Get Help When You’re Out Of Unemployment
What can you do if your unemployment benefits run out, or you’re about to lose them and you still don’t have a job? Try not to panic, there are resources available to help.
Unemployment benefits are intended as a temporary measure to help you financially when you are between jobs. Generally, unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks. However, the duration of benefits can vary depending on your state.
In times of high unemployment, the federal and state governments may extend unemployment benefits. However, there are limits to how many weeks are available. That means there’s a chance your benefits might run out before you secure new employment.
What should you do if you are worried about your unemployment benefits running out? There are steps you can take to protect your finances, even when you are unemployed.
Florida Unemployment Benefits Eligibility
To qualify for Florida unemployment benefits, you must meet several criteria:
- You must have lost your job through no fault of your own. You wonât qualify if you quit for personal reasons or were terminated for malicious misconduct. Poor job performance does not disqualify you.
- You must be totally or partially unemployed. Partially unemployed means your hours were reduced or youâre a part-time worker who canât find additional work.
- You must have earned at least $3,400 before taxes in what is called the “base period,” which is the first four complete quarters beginning 18 months prior to your claim.
- You must be able to work, available to work, and actively seeking work. This includes being able to get to a job and have child care if necessary.
The best way to find out if you are eligible is to apply online. If you need help applying or determining your eligibility, contact your local CareerSource Florida center.
Recommended Reading: How Do I Sign Up For Unemployment In Tn
Stimulus Check Live Updates: Will There Be A December Stimulus Check To End 2021 What About Child Tax Credit
Information on the USA’s fourth stimulus check and other forms of financial aid is hard to come by, which is why ourprovides useful updates on all the support available. This includes Child Tax Credit payments, new Unemployment Benefits, Medicare Benefits, COLA 2022 increases, Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, IRS Tax Refunds and more.
- Child Tax Credit Updates.What is different with December payments?
The Biden Administration has attempted to cushion the economic blow of COVID-19 with various forms of stimulus checks sent out across the United States. Even though a fourth stimulus check does not appear to be forthcoming, there are various other forms of financial aid being offered by states this December. In our live blog this December 2, you can find all the latest news on the support available in your state, as well as details of a surprise stimulus payment coming in the near future, ahead of the holiday season.
COVID-19 continues to cause economic issues across the US and the rest of the world, meaning that these payments come as a welcome relief to many individuals and families all over the country. Below, we provide all of the latest on the stimulus checks and unemployment benefits being offered, as well as the upcoming changes to COLA and Medicare.
What Happens After September 4 2021
- The week ending September 4, 2021, is the last week of unemployment for which you can receive federal benefits. You may file your weekly certification for that week on or after September 5, 20201, and if eligible, you will receive payment for your last week of federal benefits.
- State unemployment insurance benefits will continue to be available after September 4, 2021. Under state law, state unemployment benefits currently provide eligible claimants with up to 13 weeks of benefits in a one-year period, with a maximum benefit of $350 a week.
Don’t Miss: How To File A Va Claim For Disability
Eviction Protection After September 30 2021
To avoid eviction for unpaid rent after September 30, 2021, you must apply for rent relief. Your landlord cannot evict you if youâve applied and are waiting to find out if youre eligible. This protection lasts until March 31, 2022.
If you get a notice from your landlord demanding rent payment, make sure you apply within 15 days.
If you owe rent and do not apply for rent relief, your landlord can evict you. Your landlord must apply for rent relief before they can evict you for unpaid rent.
Filing A Weekly Claim
We process hundreds of thousands of weekly claims each week, which can lead to site slowdowns if too many people are trying to log-in at once. Here are four things that will help everyone get the assistance they need:
Don’t Miss: When Does Unemployment Deposit Money In Ga
What Is Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment Insurance provides unemployment benefits, usually in the form of weekly payments, to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own, and meet certain other eligibility requirements. UI is administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Labor and individual states.
Each state develops their own system for delivering benefits. Extended federal unemployment benefits ended on September 6, 2021. Find details at your state’s Unemployment Insurance website.
Unemployment Insurance Relief During Covid
Notice
The CARES Act gives states the option of extending unemployment compensation to independent contractors and other workers who are ordinarily ineligible for unemployment benefits. Please contact your states unemployment insurance office at the website or phone number provided below to learn more about the availability of these benefits where you live.
Don’t Miss: Can You File Bankruptcy On Unemployment Overpayment
Where Payments Are Sent
If your application is approved, rent payments go to:
- Your landlord if they participate in the rent relief program
- You if your landlord does not participate in the program
ââIf you receive the rent payment, you must pay your landlord within 15 days.
Utility payments go directly to the utility provider.
Why Havent I Received My Unemployment Benefits
With no help in sight, people like Harris are turning to elected officials, lawyers, and even social media for help. Harris is part of the Unofficial California Unemployment Help Facebook group, which has drawn more than 56,000 members since it was started in March.
When asked via email what is causing the delays, the California EDD cited unprecedented demand for unemployment benefits. The EDD says it has processed 11.9 million combined claims for the regular unemployment insurance program, as well as the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.
Many states operate unemployment systems that are sorely out of date or didnt have the staff to handle this deluge of applications. The states are catching up, but if there is anything wrong with your application, you could get lost in the mix, says Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the progressive, independent think tank The Century Foundation.
If your application gets flagged and your states unemployment agency lacks the resources to resolve your issue, you could get stuck, says Stettner, who has over 20 years of experience as an unemployment insurance policy advocate.
This is what happened to Mikaelah Pagan, who found her way to the same Facebook group as Harris. She says she filed for unemployment with the EDD the day she lost her food service job and waited four months to receive benefits.
Also Check: Il Unemployment Office Near Me
I Am An Independent Contractor Am I Eligible For Unemployment Benefits Under The Cares Act
You may be eligible for unemployment benefits, depending on your personal circumstances and how your state chooses to implement the CARES Act. States are permitted to provide Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to individuals who are self-employed, seeking part-time employment, or who otherwise would not qualify for regular unemployment compensation. To qualify for PUA benefits, you must not be eligible for regular unemployment benefits and be unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work because of certain health or economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PUA program provides up to 39 weeks of benefits, which are available retroactively starting with weeks of unemployment beginning on or after January 27, 2020, and ending on or before December 31, 2020. The amount of benefits paid out will vary by state and are calculated based on the weekly benefit amounts provided under a states unemployment insurance laws. Under the CARES Act, the WBA may be supplemented by the additional unemployment assistance provided under the Act.
Covid + Credit: Unemployment And The Covid Pandemic
What to know if youve recently found yourself permanently or temporarily out of work because of COVID-19.
Reading time: 3 minutes
As of March 2020, the US is facing a sudden spike in unemployment benefits applications as the Covid pandemic forces many Americans into self-isolation and many businesses across the country to furlough workers or even shutter their doors. In light of these extraordinary events, the majority of states have temporarily expanded access to unemployment for those out of work because of the virus.
There are two main types of benefits available: First, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance covers those Americans unable to work because of the Coronavirus, including independent contractors, gig workers, sick people, and those caring for someone who has the virus. The second category is an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits through July 2020, for those who qualify for unemployment assistance in their state.
In addition, most states have expanded their unemployment assistance programs to provide for more Americans directly affected by the Covid pandemic quarantines and closures. If you have been kept from work due to one of the following circumstances related to the pandemic, you may be eligible for unemployment in your state:
If you have been kept from work due to the following circumstances, it’s possible that you will be eligible for unemployment assistance. However, access will vary by state and individual circumstance. You may qualify if:
You May Like: How Do I Sign Up For Unemployment In Tn
