Explainer: What's at stake in the battle over U.S. unemployment benefits in Congress?

[turbinetree]

POLITICS JULY 27, 2020 / 6:21 AM / UPDATED 5 MINUTES AGO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Enhanced unemployment benefits that the U.S. Congress authorized early in the coronavirus pandemic are due to expire at the end of July and thus far lawmakers have been unable to agree on a measure to extend them.


Economists warn that could make it harder for jobless people to cover their expenses, potentially slowing the economic recovery.

WHAT IS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?
Unemployment benefits to help laid-off Americans cover their bills as they look for work. They typically cover only a fraction of a worker’s prior earnings.

Benefits are administered at the state level and can vary widely. The average weekly payment in Massachusetts before the pandemic hit was $546 per week; in Mississippi it was $213, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone and Andrea Ricci

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-unemployment-e/explainer-whats-at-stake-in-the-battle-over-u-s-unemployment-benefits-in-congress-idUSKCN24S14R?il=0


-snip-

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives voted in May to extend the $600 payments through Jan. 31, 2021, at a cost of $437 billion.

Republicans in the Senate say the benefit should be reduced so it does not make it more lucrative to stay at home. But they have yet to put forward a concrete proposal of their own.

Mnuchin on Thursday suggested paying 70% of workers’ previous earnings - which would require new calculations from state computer systems that are still struggling to process existing claims. That approach could also provide an outsized benefit in states including Florida and Arizona, which pay out some of the lowest benefits.

Other Republican lawmakers have floated lower payments of $200 or so per week, which would be easier to implement but would still scale back support for unemployed people at a time when many are facing eviction, foreclosure and scant job prospects.


Lets put this in perspective #Mitch McConnell makes $225,000 a year being a complete asshole, making $18,750 per month.......

The Republican senators of his bunch of assholes make $174,000 a year or $14,500 a month, so when you take a recess like these assholes are planning to do, maybe they should take a $18,750 & $14,500 per month taxpayer funded cut because after all it is "our" money, and the Hero's Act money is taxpayer money and 100.00 or 200.00 does not cover my mortgage / rent payment let alone food on the table and electric and gas bills................


November 3, 2020 cannot get here fast enough...................and then January 21, 2021................

[beachbumbob]

1. be clear on what is needed

- enhanced unemployment of the extra $600 on top of the qualified unemployment weekly benefit was foolish in the first place. The upper range should have been based on specific local income needs and perhaps cap at $200-300/extra per week
- the original Pandemic relief bill SHOULD have had a mechanism to automatically renew benefit if certain criteria was happening, so politics could have been set aside
- then there is the typical weekly unemployment 13 week EXTENSION for when unemployment rates are at certain level in a state. I hear NO discussion on this at all

GOP/Trump will use blackmail to force a shield law as part of this and NO WAY Pelosi can allow this

[Iliyah]

2. $600.00 per week on top of unemployment per state . ...

Many states have failed unemployment benefits especially at higher unemployment status. The $600 kept many unemployed from losing their homes or rentals and also somewhat kept the economy flowing by purchases. Also jobs are not coming out of the woodwork.

Lose the consumer spending as well as losing homes and rental, will result in a downturn of the economy more so. COVID-19 is mutating and spreading. Many jobs are downsizing nor just gone.

Many have lost healthcare, therefore many have outstanding medical bills on top of essential bills per month. Credit cards payments are being hampered as well as food for families.

But alas, a major recession and or full blown depression is in the horizon on top of a Pandemic. But republicans who for some reason just can not govern or maybe just don't give a fuck have put the USA and her citizens in a horrible situation.

[jimfields33]

3. I have mentioned giving 800 a week federal,

But exempt states from giving benefit. The states need a break. They literally are losing sales taxes, tolls and who knows whatever other revenue.

[Frustratedlady]

4. Since Congress is talking about adjusting unemployment benefits/additional amount/week...

perhaps we should insist Congress reduce their salaries. Seeing that McConnell makes $18,750/month makes me ill.

They aren't in session that much and, with COVID-19, I doubt they are working much when on vacation/at home, so let's adjust the amount they take in so they better understand the hardships others experience. Nothing like experience to widen your perception.