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Months into pandemic, many still not getting unemployment

Jul 29, 2020
Some who have lost jobs because of COVID still have not filed for unemployment benefits, even though they’re eligible.
For every 10 people who successfully filed for unemployment benefits, an April study found that three or four were unable to get through, and two didn’t even try because it was too difficult.
John Sommers II/Getty Images

The pros and cons of extending additional unemployment benefits

Jul 28, 2020
Money in jobless people's pockets can stimulate the economy, but longer unemployment payments could slow a recovery, experts say.
Baristas prepare drinks at a coffee shop in North Carolina. Some say high unemployment benefits are discouraging employees from returning to work during the pandemic.
Al Drago/Getty Images

Expanded unemployment benefits help small businesses, too

Jul 27, 2020
They have been a lifeline for laid-off workers. They also boost demand and enable businesses to focus on staying afloat.
A hostess at a Miami restaurant waits for customers behind a partition. The expanded unemployment benefits helped small businesses make decisions early in the pandemic.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Republicans weigh options for pandemic unemployment wage replacement

Jul 24, 2020
One idea for replacing the current $600-a-week benefit is paying workers a percentage of their past wages.
Senate Republicans have delayed introducing a COVID-19 relief bill.
Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images

Gig workers worry about losing federal jobless benefits

Jul 23, 2020
If the $600-a-week pandemic payment disappears, many may have trouble covering their basic expenses.
Gig workers have received unemployment benefits many would not have been entitled to before pandemic assistance began.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

PPP boosted employment through early June, study finds

Jul 23, 2020
As many as 3.2 million jobs were added by the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but the long-term effect is unknown.
With the coronavirus closing many businesses, the Paycheck Protection Program saved  millions of jobs that would have been lost, according to MIT research.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

What Senate Republicans are proposing for the COVID-19 relief bill

They're divided on whether and how to extend emergency pandemic unemployment benefits.
The unemployment extension for the GOP bill will be based on approximately 70% wage replacement, according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

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The number of people seeking unemployment benefits is up for the first time since March

Jul 23, 2020
The rise in weekly jobless claims to 1.4 million underscores the outsize role the unemployment insurance system is playing as a safety net.
The Labor Department said Thursday that roughly 32 million people are receiving unemployment benefits.
Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images

Pandemic unemployment benefits have kept people spending

Jul 23, 2020
Economists say the additional $600-a-week benefit has boosted the whole economy and contributed to job growth.
A person fills out an unemployment benefits application. The addition of $600 a week has enabled many Americans to keep spending and support businesses.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

How the loss of $600 a week will impact jobless people we've been following

Jul 22, 2020
For some people, moving might be an option. For others, not much might change.
An applicant fills out an unemployment benefits form in Virginia. Temporary relief payments are scheduled to end soon.
Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images