One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Unemployed Californians Could Soon Get An Extra $300 Per Week
A staffer works to process claims at California's unemployment office, March 30, 2020. (California Employment Development Department)
It’s been about a month since millions of Californians lost their federal unemployment benefits, throwing many into a financial downward spiral. Now, they may get some short-term relief through a new federal program.
Over the weekend, California’s unemployment office announced that the state was approved to participate in the federal Lost Wages Assistance program, which was created by an executive order earlier this month from President Trump. The state will receive $4.5 billion to start, with the possibility of more funding down the line.
The program will provide an extra $300 per week to Californians who are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic. That money will be added to their existing state unemployment benefits.
Payments will be retroactive to Aug. 1, and are guaranteed to last at least three weeks for qualified recipients. But this will only be a short-term replacement for the $600-per-week supplement that expired in July (Congress has so far failed to renew that program).
There’s still no word on when Californians can expect to receive the new federal money. In a press conference last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom said details should be coming soon.
“As soon as we have clarity from the feds, we'll make public exactly when those dollars will be forthcoming," he said.
In order to qualify for the federal $300 boost, Californians need to already be receiving at least $100 per week in state benefits. That requirement will leave out many lower-wage workers, as well as some freelancers with mixed sources of income.
Sponsored message
🚨NEW SERIES ALERT! LAist’s How To (New) L.A. is a collection of step-by-step guides and practical information for navigating your life in Los Angeles. Up is down. Day is night. High is low. Left is mustard. This is L.A. right now. Here’s how to live in it.
- SAFETY: Is It Safe Out There?
- GOING PLACES: What's Open & All The Rules
- WORK: Getting Your Unemployment Money
- QUARANTINE/ISOLATION:
- What To Do If You’re Sick — Or Might Be
- MASKS: Confronting The Maskless (c/o An FBI Hostage Negotiator)
- MENTAL HEALTH: Finding Mental Health Support
- CHEAT SHEET: Top 5 Things To Know
- LAW ENFORCEMENT: The Scope Of LA’s Police
- RESTAURANTS: Delivery Tips That Help LA Restaurants
- CIVIL RIGHTS: The City’s New Civil Rights Department
- ELECTION: How Voting Works Now
- THEME PARKS: Adventuring Without Leaving Your Couch
- KITCHEN: Cook Like These LA Chefs
AND MORE.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate now.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
