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Democrats want to send more unemployment benefits. Some workers never got the last round

Volunteers load shopping bags with food assistance for laid off workers at a food distribution event on Dec. 12, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Democrats are poised to send more unemployment benefits to laid-off workers. Meanwhile, some workers are still waiting on the last tranche, authorized months ago.

A $900 billion Covid relief bill signed Dec. 27 extended jobless benefits to March 14 and raised them by $300 a week.

In Wisconsin, officials estimate self-employed and gig workers won’t get that extra aid until at least April 21 — almost four months later.

Other workers who had exhausted their state benefits just began receiving the extended aid on Thursday, according to Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development.

Other states, like California and Colorado, only began paying benefits to some groups recently.

Workers who experience delays will get back pay for the missed weeks and be made whole.

But, while they wait for the funds, jobless individuals must go without income support they may need to pay rent or buy food.

‘Antiquated’

Even with modern computer systems, there’s typically some lag time.

The U.S. Labor Department must issue guidance to states interpreting the rules contained in a relief law. That sets the parameters for state labor agencies, which then codes the updates into their systems.

There’s also typically a period of testing that occurs after programming is complete.

The whole process typically takes about a month, according to Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy advisor at Employ America, a progressive think tank.

Some states have been able to issue aid within days, though.  

American Rescue Plan

And Colorado did so last week, according to the state’s Department of Labor and Employment.

“We know that many Coloradans are facing extreme economic hardships right now, and have been anxiously waiting for the ability to apply for these added benefits,” Joe Barela, executive director of the department, said Feb. 7.

A new, modernized cloud-based computer system will allow for “much speedier implementation of future pandemic assistance legislation,” Barela said.

The new system, called MyUI+, launched in January.

Mixed Earners


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Scoop Sky is a blog with all the enjoyable information on many subjects, including fitness and health, technology, fashion, entertainment, dating and relationships, beauty and make-up, sports and many more.

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