Congressmen Seek Permanent Expansion of Unemployment Aid Aid

Legislators want the unemployment system to provide more generous benefits, noting that unemployment assistance generally replaces around 40 pennies for every dollar earned at work

Photo: KEVIN DIETSCH / AFP / Getty Images

A group of almost 40 Democratic lawmakers are asking President Joe Biden to overhaul the unemployment system by permanently enacting some pandemic relief measures, such as allow workers without income to continue collecting unemployment benefits .

In a letter sent to the president, lawmakers argue that unemployment benefits do not reflect the realities of the workforce, plus it gives very little help to families when people lose their jobs .

Signatories include Senator Bernie Sanders, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, and Representative Adam Schiff.

The call comes a year after the pandemic caused unemployment in the United States to rise to the highest level since the Great Depression, prompting lawmakers to introduce workarounds .

Among the measures enacted are additional weekly assistance, as well as making self-employed workers eligible for unemployment benefits under a new program called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, or PUA.

About four out of 10 Unemployment claims until 27 March were from PUA, which, according to lawmakers, indicates that the system regular unemployment is falling short.

“The Covid pandemic – 19 has revealed many cracks in our country’s unemployment insurance (UI) system, ”the lawmakers wrote. “ The system also does not respond to economic recessions , it does not reach enough workers or provide adequate benefits. ”

Legislators want that the unemployment system provides more generous benefits , noting that unemployment assistance generally replaces around 40 cents for every dollar earned from work.

Stimulus packages provided temporary increases in unemployment benefits, starting with $ 600 additional per week through the Aid, Relief and Safety Act Economic (CARES) for Coronavirus, last year.

In March, the United States Rescue Plan provided $ 300 additional weekly unemployment assistance.

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