Finance

Covid relief bill pays extra $300 a week in jobless benefits, extends aid for 4 months

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., speaks alongside a bipartisan group of Democrat and Republican members of Congress as they announce a proposal for a Covid-19 relief bill on Capitol Hill on Dec. 14, 2020 in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers from both chambers released a $908 billion package Monday, split into two bills.

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$300 a week

The $300 weekly enhancement to benefits would not be retroactive. The federal government would pay the subsidy for any period of unemployment from Dec. 26 until April 19.  

PUA and PEUC programs extended

The bipartisan legislation, the Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act of 2020, would also issue another 16 weeks of jobless benefits through two temporary federal programs set to expire in about a week and a half.

One of those programs, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, pays assistance to self-employed, gig, freelance and other workers typically unable to receive jobless aid from states.

The other, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, offers an extra 13 weeks of state benefits, which generally last for up to six months.

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The two programs would be extended to April 19 if the bill is passed.

Aside from unemployment provisions, the $748 billion legislation has other aid valves like support for small businesses, child care grants, rental assistance and student loan relief.

The bipartisan group of senators issued a second, $160 billion bill containing funding for state and local governments and liability protections for businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits.

Together, the bills offer $908 billion.

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