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Pritzker says Illinois will eventually participate in three-week federal unemployment program

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As part of a previous federal coronavirus relief package, workers collecting unemployment insurance temporarily received an extra $600 per week in supplemental benefits. Though Democrats pushed to extend it, they could not get Republicans to agree, and the extra benefits expired July 31.

As a workaround, President Donald Trump authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set aside up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund for lost wage payments. Under this Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program, FEMA will provide participating states with grants to help cover expanded unemployment benefits of $300 per week, plus 5% of the total grant amount to cover administrative costs.

States also may choose to contribute an additional $100 per week, bringing the total extra benefit amount to $400 per week. However, few states are expected to do so because of the cost.

It was originally expected that these unemployment benefits would last about five weeks. However, states approved for funding are now only guaranteed three weeks, retroactive to Aug. 1. If there are still funds available after that period, allocation of the money will be determined on a week-by-week basis until the money is gone. […]

“I think the reason that states are reluctant to get engaged is because of the technology involved,” said Jane Oates, a former U.S. Department of Labor official who now serves as president of the advocacy group WorkingNation. “Many of the states are using antiquated technology that doesn’t have interoperability. … it’s very difficult for them to add it to the unemployment checks of out-of-work workers.”

Getting that money into unemployed workers’ pockets depends on when the state applied, when it gets approved for funding and how quickly it can update computer systems to handle the payments. Arizona, for example, has already paid out benefits to qualifying residents. Other states may need six weeks or longer to get up and running.

* The article noted that Illinois hadn’t yet announced what it planned to do. I’ve been asking the governor’s office for days about this and the governor was finally asked today about why the state hadn’t yet made a decision when so many other states have…

That’s not accurate. It’s just not an accurate question. We have begun that process and, indeed, it takes a lot of setup on an internal basis for us to move forward with that and so that’s what we’ve been doing.

He did not say how long this process would take.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:53 pm

Comments

I’ve heard millions of answers be called ‘inaccurate’. This is the first question to have been so designated, in my time anyway.

Comment by Sayitaintso Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 12:59 pm
Never thought I’d say this but let’s copy whatever Arizona is doing.

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 1:03 pm
Glad you’ve been asking. Was incredulous about there being no coverage about this until now. Pretty embarrassing for the Governor and Ms. Richard imo when over half the states in the country have applied and Texas (a much larger state) is already receiving money.

Comment by Lake Effect Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 1:42 pm
Thank you for posting this!!! That EO was signed on August 8th and dozens of other states are already set to go, its absolutely ridiculous that it’s taken this long

Comment by GP Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:20 pm
Would have thought this would be a no brainer.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:24 pm
Absolutely ridiculous it is taking this far. Our entire government system, state and federal, does not care for us at all. We are a political pawn. Through no fault of my own ive lost my job, car and childcare & insurance. Unlike other countries, we have to beg to be taken care of. Ridiculous.

Comment by Chey Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 2:59 pm
Way to wait until last minute Fred flintstone

Comment by Doyle Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:32 pm
Brilliant, wait until people are freaking out with anxiety and be one of last ones line to apply. Should’ve been a no brainer indeed

Comment by Ryan Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 4:34 pm
Illinois has been failing the public for so many years it’ll never get right… Chicago needs to be made its own state so it stops drowning the rest of the state…..

Comment by illguy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 5:33 pm
Screams the question, will Illinois be providing the extra $100?

Comment by John Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 5:50 pm
So the State will spend millions on new systems so that Trump can divert funds set aside for natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes. This is 2020, watch these funds be washed away.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 6:01 pm
Should pry hook up the extra $100 for the inexcusable laziness and procrastination. Just saying

Comment by Roy Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 6:05 pm
How much will it cost the state to implement? With recent natural disasters in Iowa, California, and the gulf coast, how long will that FEMA pot of money last?

Comment by SIUEalum Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 6:16 pm
Fred has no intent of requesting the federal money. Pos doesn’t care about the unemployed in Illinois.

Comment by Snake Tuesday, Aug 25, 20 @ 9:15 pm
I hope that all this time waiting ya put down the extra $100 it’s not fair to much state taxes we pay we need help you think I wanna stay home hell NO I don’t but is not safe right now the government not taking strong decisions right because the damn election we need that $400 until ya make a decision what is more important us oh the god damn election thank goodness.

Comment by Marco Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 3:36 am
Everyone who is unemployed at the moment should vote against this guy no matter what when he’s up for re-election if he doesn’t hook up the full $400 with a swiftness. Straight bogus

Comment by Bruce Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 12:05 pm
hurry up fat ass … whats taking so long with our damn money

Comment by barryballs Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 12:40 pm
I think it is really sad that it has taking Illinois so long to get the process started. This is one inform us how much the state care about the people. The process is already long and we will not see any funds until the end of September. How man people will be evicted, hungry etc by then? Just sad.

Comment by Antoinette Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 12:44 pm
i just wanna know if when we do get this extra on our unemployment if we will be back paidedfrom when it was suppost to start u know aug first

Comment by Cameron Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:41 pm
@Cameron - Yes, it will be retroactive to Aug 1st.

Comment by John Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:53 pm
No billionaire on planet Earth gives a crap about the working class or suffering people. ◄–Period

Kids, Elderly, Unemployed, Hungry, Homeless, Disabled folks will always be the pawns for political jockeying. Today all those folks take a back seat to Blacks, Tranvestites, Gays & Illegal Immigrants. You are 2nd class, maybe even 3rd class to these Billionaires & your hardship does NOT matter… thats why they ignore you & cater to the “chosen” groups of the day.

Comment by Radius Thursday, Aug 27, 20 @ 12:49 am