COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Wednesday announced approval for Ohio's application for the Lost Wages Assistance program.

The program authorized by President Donald Trump gives $44 billion to states to bolster unemployment benefits after Congress did not authorize a new round of Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments. 

The new Lost Wages program cuts the federal benefit in half for Ohioans since the state cannot afford to boost the benefit by the additional $100 requested by Trump.

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says paying these benefits will require additional upgrades for both regular unemployment and pandemic unemployment assistance claimants. 

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that the benefits would be paid out by mid-September.