Extended Unemployment Benefits: How To Apply For Benefit Extension
The United States’ COVID-19 pandemic enhanced federal unemployment insurance came to an end last weekend after being in place for almost 18 months, which has led to roughly nine million Americans losing all of their benefits.
Meanwhile, another three million will see a reduction of 300 dollars in the checks that they receive, say The Century Foundation.
The end of this financial aid from federal government comes as the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is continuing to threaten the USA’s response to the pandemic, as lockdowns are beginning to be implemented, with all the knock-on effects that come from this.
Applying for extended benefits
The Extended Benefits program could come to the rescue for many Americans still requiring financial support, and this is for individuals that, during periods of high unemployment, have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits.
The basic Extended Benefits program will provide benefits for up to an additional 13 weeks when a state is experiencing high unemployment, while some states have introduced a voluntary program whereby individuals are paid up to seven additional weeks – a total of 20 maximum – via the Extended Benefits program during periods where unemployment is deemed to be extremely high.
It is worth noting that not everyone who qualified for regular state benefits will be able to receive aid via the Extended Benefits program, so it is best to check with your state agency to see if you meet the requirements.
In terms of how much you should expect to receive from the Extended Benefits program, the weekly benefit amount is the same as you would have received for regular unemployment compensation.
Once a state begins an Extended Benefit period, they will notify those who have received their usual benefits and inform them that they may be eligible for some extra financial support. In addition, it is possible to contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency to request if Extended Benefits are available.
