That Extra $600 In Weekly Unemployment Benefits Is Going Away. What's Next In California?

Federal legislation passed early in the coronavirus pandemic included an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits. But now those payments are going away, and losing them would have massive ripple effects.
Those federal payments have now pumped more than $26 billion into California's unemployment system. So far Congress hasn't come up with a plan to extend them.
What does that mean for Californians? A dramatic drop in unemployment payments.
Without that federal money, Californians would receive a median weekly payment of just $339 in state unemployment insurance, according to a recent analysis from researchers with the California Policy Lab.
UCLA economist Till von Wachter, one of the researchers, said that without the federal $600 boost:
"About half of Californians would have weekly benefits that put them below the federal poverty line."
READ THE FULL STORY
WE ARE HERE TO HELP: HOW TO (NEW) LA
- What's Open And What Are The Rules?
- Is It Safe Out There?
- What To Do If You Have It, Might Have It, Or Were Possibly Exposed To The Coronavirus
- An FBI Hostage Negotiator Tells Us How To Talk To People About Masks
- Need Some Mental Health Support? Start Here
- The 5 Most Important Things To Know About The Outside World
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.