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Mich. lawmakers approve unemployment benefits, new nursing home rules

October 14, 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, announces a lawsuit Wednesday against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, over her use of emergency powers.

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LANSING — Michigan lawmakers worked until the wee hours Wednesday morning, waiting as legislative leaders and the administration of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer debated behind closed doors on how best to help millions of workers and small businesses struggling due to the financial strain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

Leaders from the House and Senate met off and on for more than 16 hours on Tuesday and Wednesday with representatives from Whitmer’s administration to discuss the measures. After midnight early on Wednesday, lawmakers formalized agreements to extend unemployment benefits, outline new safety measures for nursing homes and create new legal protections for health care providers and other businesses.

Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, as they talk to reporters Thursday,

Extra Unemployment Benefits Update: What’s the Latest?

October 12, 2020

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The United States Department of Labor Frances Perkins Building.

Millions of Americans need another extension of COVID-19 unemployment checks. The original $600 was extended for six weeks at the amount of $300, but that time has passed and a lot of people have gotten their final extra checks.

Will you get another extension of unemployment benefits? Here’s the update as of October 12..

On October 9, the White House offered $1.8 trillion for the overall pricetag of a second stimulus relief plan. However, on October 10, things moved in the wrong direction when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the new White House offer. One reason she gave? The need she believes Americans have for another $600 extension in unemployment benefits. However, at the same time, Senate Republicans, by some accounts as many as 20 of them, have balked at the $1.8 trillion plan from the White House. They think

Unemployment benefits fight highlights long-term economic pain

October 11, 2020

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As state legislators contemplate the future of unemployment benefits, the health of Michigan’s economy hangs in the balance.

Michigan’s quick recovery, largely thanks to the automotive sector working double time after two months of lost production, has stalled out.

Jobs posts remain well below January levels and long-term unemployment is on the rise. More than 230,000 unemployed Michiganders entered the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program between Aug. 29 and Sept. 19, according to U.S. Department of Labor data.

That system pays benefits for those unemployed longer than 26 weeks. In other words, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders have been laid off since March with no sign of returning to a job. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has failed to tell Crain’s just how many people would be impacted if an agreement to extend benefits isn’t reached.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office claims as many as 800,000 in

Extra Unemployment Benefits: Will You Get $600?

October 10, 2020

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The Problem Solvers Caucus is calling for $450 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits as part of the next stimulus package.

Millions of Americans could use another extension of COVID-19 unemployment checks. The original $600 was extended but only for six weeks. That extension has now expired.

Will you get another extension of unemployment benefits? Will it be for $600 or less? Here’s the update as of October 10.

On October 9, the White House offered to come up to $1.8 trillion for the overall cost of a second stimulus relief plan. However, on October 10, things moved in the wrong direction when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the new White House offer. One reason she gave? The need she believes Americans have for another $600 extension in unemployment benefits.

And that’s where it remains on October 10. Negotiations are stalled. Thus, it’s still possible you could see

New Mexico to require job searches for unemployment benefits

October 8, 2020

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — People who have claimed unemployment benefits in New Mexico during the coronavirus pandemic will soon be required to conduct weekly job searches, a requirement previously waived because of large-scale business closures resulting in a smaller job market.

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions announced Wednesday that it plans to reinstate the requirement on Oct. 25 barring any changes to the state health order from Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham or the state health department.

Claimants receiving regular unemployment benefits must now document at least two work search activities each week starting Oct. 18. Verifiable searches must be reported during the weekly certification process starting Oct. 25 and each week after.

The work search requirement also can be met by attending a workshop offered statewide by New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System, which offers access to current openings, job training and career services.

The U.S.

Unemployment benefits may pay just $5 a week without stimulus deal

October 7, 2020

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U.S. President Donald Trump walks to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on October 1, 2020 in Washington, DC.

Drew Angerer | Getty Images

It appears unemployed workers won’t get another boost in their weekly benefits any time soon, after President Donald Trump pulled officials out of negotiations on a fifth round of coronavirus relief Tuesday.

The move abruptly dashed hopes of a deal on items such as enhanced unemployment benefits after weeks of talks between the White House and top congressional Democrats seemed to be bearing some fruit.

Absent more aid, jobless Americans will be living off their current allotment of benefits from the state or federal government. In some cases, that amounts to just $5 a week.

Even that money will disappear by the end of the year for millions of workers without more legislation — leaving them with no income if they’re unable

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in D.C. Likely to End After 39 Weeks

October 7, 2020

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In less than a month, Andy’s unemployment benefits will run out. He is currently on week 36 of his Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), a program created under the federal CARES Act for independent contractors and other workers who are ineligible for traditional unemployment. In D.C., these workers get a minimum of $179 every week for a total of 39 weeks.

“What program will D.C. be offering to people on PUA?” he asks. “What do they expect us to do? How do they expect us to pay our bills? How can we survive with $0? Winter is coming. It’s not going to get any easier.”

Andy, who works in international development, saw his income drop to zero in mid-January as the coronavirus pandemic began to impact travel. Like so many residents, Andy found even applying for PUA to be a nightmare. He was forced to wait until late April—around the

Extra $600 in unemployment benefits delayed as talks in Congress stall

October 6, 2020

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The U.S. Capitol stands in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Talks Thursday between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brought no immediate breakthrough on a deal for a new pandemic relief package, while the House prepared to vote on a Democrat-only plan.

Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Democrats and Republicans still seem unable to find common ground on enhanced unemployment benefits, more than two months after the expiration of a prior, $600 weekly subsidy that had buoyed household income for millions.

White House officials and senior congressional Democrats are still trying to hammer out details of a fifth financial relief package to help counter the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Unemployment benefits appear to be a key sticking point in the negotiations, despite consensus in other areas like stimulus checks and aid for small businesses.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at

Extra Unemployment Benefits: When Will You Get $600 Again?

October 4, 2020

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The Problem Solvers Caucus is calling for $450 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits as part of the next stimulus package.

You may have heard that there’s a new plan on the table to give you an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits, presuming you qualified for that due to loss of employment.

What gives? Are you really going to get an extra $600 again? When?

The answer is complicated by political dynamics in Congress, by President Donald Trump’s hospitalization, perhaps by the election, and by Republicans’ stated concern that $600 a week provides Americans with a disincentive to work.

The figure emerged in a new Democratic plan to break the logjam in COVID-19 stimulus relief negotiations. That plan would give people $600 a week in extra unemployment benefits. The plan did pass the U.S. House on October 1 in a vote. However, that’s where things quickly

Extra Unemployment Benefits: Would You Get $600 Per Week?

October 2, 2020

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The Problem Solvers Caucus is calling for $450 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits as part of the next stimulus package.

A new Democratic plan to break the logjam in COVID-19 stimulus relief negotiations would give people $600 a week in extra unemployment benefits. The plan did pass the U.S. House on October 1 in a vote. However, negotiations between Democrats and Republicans continue, and Democrats need Republican support for the plan to actually go into place.

Is that likely to happen? It’s possible because both sides have expressed a desire to help people who are unemployed, not to mention the other aspects in the bill, such as another round of $1,200 COVID-19 stimulus checks. However, on unemployment checks, Republicans have voiced concern that a $600 amount gives people too much of a disincentive to work. Some Republican leaders made those comments because people initially got the extra

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Tag: unemployment

Mich. lawmakers approve unemployment benefits, new nursing home rules

Extra Unemployment Benefits Update: What’s the Latest?

Unemployment benefits fight highlights long-term economic pain

Extra Unemployment Benefits: Will You Get $600?

New Mexico to require job searches for unemployment benefits

Unemployment benefits may pay just $5 a week without stimulus deal

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance in D.C. Likely to End After 39 Weeks

Extra $600 in unemployment benefits delayed as talks in Congress stall

Extra Unemployment Benefits: When Will You Get $600 Again?

Extra Unemployment Benefits: Would You Get $600 Per Week?