At least 12 million people are receiving unemployment benefits from two programs created by the CARES Act in March. Both programs are set to expire this weekend.
One program – called the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation – provides unemployment benefits to gig workers and other people not eligible for traditional unemployment, while the other program provides 100 percent federal funding for benefits for people who are long-term unemployed.
Earlier this past week, Congress passed a $900 million COVID-19 relief package that included extending unemployment benefits in the two programs (due to expire in March), giving recipients $300 a week instead of $600, and also giving %600 stimulus checks to eligible Americans.
However, in a surprise move, on Christmas Eve, President Donald Trump said he would veto the package unless stimulus checks were changed to $2000 instead of the $600 authorized by Congress. Of course, Democrats were quite happy to increase the stimulus checks to $2000, but Senate Republicans were opposed to the increase.
TRump’s failure to sign the relief bill will affect nearly two-thirds of all unemployment benefits recipients receiving income support through the lapsing programs. The vast majority won’t have access to any other benefits at that point.
Complaining over the relief package was just a part of the double-barreled blow Trump let loose with – He also said he was going to veto the $1.4 trillion Defense Spending package because it contains provisions he does not like. Trump’s move is believed to be another test of Republican loyalty to him, say many people.
But despite what the president does or does not do – the only people being hurt by his little game of “How much do you like me?” is the 12 million or more people who are going to be literally left out in the cold. And that is abhorrent to me and many others around the country.
Even if Trump decides to sign the package this weekend, which will avoid a government shutdown on Monday at midnight, a gap of at least a week is inevitable for millions, according to state labor officials.
“There will be a delay in benefits for those currently enrolled in federal PUA and PEUC benefit programs,” Jason Moon, a spokesman for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, said in reference to the expiring programs. “This will only be a disruption and claimants will be made whole once the extensions are fully implemented.”
But think of this – Without the extension of aid – five million people will be immediately pushed into poverty, according to a Columbia University study.
A family of four is below the poverty line if they make less than about $28,000 a year, or $2,300 a month, according to the measure used by Columbia researchers.
The bottom line is on Trump’s shoulders now. It’s possible the president could still sign the package despite his criticism of it, especially when he gets tired of playing his little game with the American people.
