Americans out of work may only receive a federal boost of $300 per week under President Donald Trump’s extended unemployment benefit plan, CNN reports.
According to Department of Labor guidance obtained by CNN, even though Trump signed an executive order stating jobless Americans would receive a boost of up to $400 per week, that total could be less.
Americans out of work were receiving $600 per week in unemployment benefits from the federal government. That payment expired July 31. After Congress failed to pass another relief package, Trump acted on his own.
Trump’s executive action would provide unemployed workers $300 a week under a new "lost wages assistance" program, but only if states first agree to put up an additional $100 a week. Trump said his plan would equate to $400 per week to unemployed workers.
CNN reports that many states facing budget shortfalls will be unable to pay. On Sunday, the Department of Labor said states can count their existing weekly unemployment payments as their cost share requirement.
"This option requires no new expenditures of state funds beyond what the state would already be paying out from state funds in regular unemployment compensation benefits," the email stated.
But the department is urging states to use the $150 billion in relief funds they received in order to meet their match requirement.
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