Title: What You Need To Know About Expanded Unemployment Benefits For COVID-19
Headings: What You Need To Know About Expanded Unemployment Benefits For COVID-19
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What You Need To Know About Expanded Unemployment Benefits For COVID-19
Workers will be eligible for a $600 weekly boost on top of regular state unemployment benefits
Gig workers, freelancers, self-employed are eligible
Workers can get company benefits and UI
Generous sick pay and family leave might be available first
The 7-day waiting period to receive benefits could be waived, along with other eligibility requirements
Unemployment application systems are overwhelmed—but keep trying

Content: Presumably, with Uncle Sam paying, most of them would. Receiving unemployment assistance usually requires individuals to be involuntarily laid off from work, able to work, available to work and to be actively seeking work. But in a time where government officials are requiring people to shelter in place, and businesses are shutting down, these requirements make no sense. The new stimulus bill appears to make a big change in eligibility rules, too. ﻿
According to an unofficial draft circulating on Wednesday, individuals who haven’t been laid off, but can’t work due to a variety of reasons related to COVID-19, would also be eligible for unemployment checks. These reasons would include a case where they were diagnosed with COVID-19, were awaiting a diagnosis, or had a family member diagnosed with the disease, according to the draft. Additionally, individuals who were scheduled to start a job and could not because their future workplaces had been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would also be eligible, the draft indicates. Unemployment application systems are overwhelmed—but keep trying
Unemployment centers are staffed according to last year’s unemployment rate, which was at record lows. This means there’s a shortage of staff available to help process the sudden uptick in applications, and the websites are easily overwhelmed. To put it into perspective for you, consider this: