LANSING, Mich. — Many people have not seen the additional $300 in unemployment they've been waiting for. Alicia Nieves is getting answers on when it's coming and the one question you need to know about to get the money.
It’s been one month since the White house issued a memorandum on Lost Wage Assistance.
A program that gives an additional $300 in benefits for each person filing an unemployment claim.
“The program, it pales in comparison to what we had in the CARES Act.”
Andrew Stettner is a Senior Fellow with the Century Foundation…
Who’s been analyzing Lost Wage Assistance Benefits and issues with the program.
“Most of the states have applied for the benefits but ”It’s less than 10 states that have actually paid out the money.”
The Century Foundation estimates almost everyone on unemployment should at least start getting the lwa benefit by the end of September… two months after the program started. However, once the payments start, be prepared because they may quickly stop.
There is one other issue, both Stettner and Michele Evermore with the National Employment Law Project, are concerned about.
“During implementation of this I am worried that people are going to answer a question wrong.” “The question is ‘Are you unemployed due to disruptions during the COVID crisis?’
This question may catch some off guard, it was not asked for the CARES Act $600 benefit, and not even for normal state benefits. But it is critical to you qualifying for the new $300 lost wage assistance.
If people answer that question no, because of whatever reason. They may think that their continued unemployment is not necessarily directly COVID related. They are not going to get the money.”
If you answer no, by accident or because you misunderstand the question. You would have to contact your state’s unemployment office to change that or appeal a denial. That could delay your benefits for several more weeks.
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