Getty Unemployment benefits for COVID-19 could be extended.
Technically, extra unemployment benefits have already ended. That doesn’t mean that all qualifying Americans have received the $300 (or $400 in some states) per week yet. The date the money will land in people’s pockets depends on each individual state, when and whether it sought approval to get the checks, and how long they are taking to process.
The federal government approved six weeks of extra supplemental unemployment checks. However, that was for a retroactive time frame of August 1 through September 5, 2020, CNBC reported. That puts the total value of the extra benefits at $1,800 for Americans in states that approved $300 and $2,400 in states that approved the full $400.
“States should plan to make payments to eligible claimants for no more than six weeks from the week ending Aug. 1, 2020,” a spokesperson with the Federal Emergency Management Agency told CNBC.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why Some People Will Get $400 & Some Won’t
GettySeveral states will begin distributing payments on September 20.
The CARES Act provided a federal supplement of $600 in extra weekly unemployment benefits to qualified workers after the pandemic started. That amount was in addition to state benefits.
The $600 supplement expired in July, but President Donald Trump stepped in and authorized a new $300-per-week federal payment through a presidential memorandum. Some questioned its legality, but the benefits started going out. The federal government then set a limit at six weeks.
In his press conference on extending the benefits in August, Trump used the $400 figure, not $300, but he also made it clear that the federal government would only pick up 75% of that tab. The rest would have to be paid by the states, if they chose to do so. Not all states have chosen to grant the additional $100. That’s why some people are receiving $300 and some are receiving $400.
According to WSB-TV, once the six weeks expires, it’s possible there could be more money, but it depends on funding.
Some States Are Paying Out the Money in Lump Sums
GettyThe Problem Solvers Caucus is calling for $450 per week in extra federal unemployment benefits as part of the next stimulus package.
According to Yahoo Money, some states are paying the benefits in lump sums. Others are not doing so, so the way you will get your money is also dependent on which state you live in.
You can access a tracker to look up your state’s information on the extra unemployment benefits here. You can also see a roundup by state here.
On September 10, CNBC reported that 20 states have started paying the extra $300-per-week benefit. They needed to apply and then get approved and start processing the payments, which can take weeks.
AARP reported that more than 40 states have applied for the additional benefit.
A FEMA spokesperson told CBS News: “Regardless of where the states and territories are in their process to receive and distribute the FEMA funding, FEMA will fund six weeks in $300 supplemental unemployment benefits to every state and territory that has applied for this assistance by September 10.”
States giving people $400 instead of $300 include Kentucky, Montana and West Virginia.
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