Another 900,000 file for unemployment, record jobless claims continue amid mass death from pandemic
Weekly adjusted unemployment claims topped 900,000, according to the latest weekly jobs report from the Department of Labor, the last such report of Donald Trump’s presidency. This was a slight reduction from the previous week’s revised total of 926,000, but still nearly four times the pre-pandemic average of 225,000. The actual number of unadjusted claims, not based on seasonal fluctuations, totaled 960,668 for the week ending January 16.
In addition to state claims, 47 states reported 423,734 unemployment claims made under the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was created as part of the CARES Act for so-called “gig workers,” contractors, the self-employed and others not typically covered under traditional unemployment. Overall, the total number of jobless claims was 1.4 million, one of the highest totals recorded since August. Overall, nearly 16
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The Biden proposal includes a provision for a $400 federal supplement to state unemployment checks for several more months.
An earlier pandemic aid package approved by Congress and former President Donald Trump included a $300 federal benefit until March 14.
Other unemployment programs for freelancers (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) and people who exhausted their state benefits (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation) were extended until mid-March as well.
People drawing benefits from either PUA or PEUC who may be entitled to additional weeks can continue receiving payouts until April 5.
$400 federal unemployment benefits through September
The Biden proposal includes a provision for a $400 federal supplement to state unemployment checks for several more months.