FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) says Kentucky will apply for the new unemployment benefit created by President Donald Trump (R) in a recent executive order.
What You Need To Know
- Kentucky to apply for new FEMA unemployment benefit
- Assistance comes from Trump executive order
- Kentucky will request $400 a week
- Recipients shouldn't expect to see new benefit until at least two weeks
When the $600 per week Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefit expired, Trump issued an order creating a $300 per week benefit paid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The money will be in addition to the recipient's regular unemployment benefit.
“And while there is still some uncertainty in this new program, it is just too important to get these dollars to our families,” said Beshear.
States can request either $300 per week or use Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money to boost the amount to $400 per week. Beshear said Kentucky will take the larger amount.
The benefit used to be $600 per week, but Trump filed an executive order after that benefit expired, changing the amount and the way it's funded.
Beshear says it could take a couple of weeks to make changes to the state’s system, and recipients shouldn’t expect to see the additional benefit for at least two weeks. The benefits will be retroactive to July 26, when the original pandemic benefit expired.
Beshear said he’ll only seek three weeks of the benefit, partially because he wants to see if Congress returns to make the unemployment benefit easier to access.
“That’s not criticizing the president for doing what he can do, but if Congress can come in and say, fine, $400 all funded by the federal government in the same way that we did it the last time, that’ll be easier to implement, and I’m sure everybody would be happy with that,” Beshear said.
Beshear says he also worried funding for the benefit will run out soon, meaning Congress needs to act soon on another round of coronavirus relief.