Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Expire For 7.5 Million Americans
Summary from the AllSides News Team
About 7.5 million jobless Americans lost their COVID-19 pandemic-era unemployment boost of $300 per week on Labor Day — a holiday that has solicited different interpretations from across the spectrum. The jobless were initially granted $600 a week from April to July 2020, but Congress and the Trump administration reduced the payment to $300 when reviving the program in December. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently a record number of job openings, though hiring shortages persist across some industries; some research suggests that unemployed people who lose benefits might have a harder time finding a job. If the Biden administration's $3.5 trillion federal budget plan is passed, many social safety net programs would likely be expanded.
Center- and left-rated sources covered the news more prominently, many of which framed the cutoff as harmful for the unemployed and described it as the "most abrupt" end to government aid in U.S. history. Some also pointed out how the Biden administration said states can redirect other federal funds to extend jobless benefits, yet no states have taken action to do so. Left-rated voices often took the stance that the act will "reduce spending" and "increase poverty," while highlighting families who were "left scrambling" and "remain vulnerable." Right-rated voices were more likely to see the termination of the pandemic unemployment benefits as a win for small businesses, and argued that purportedly lucrative payments caused people to stay home rather than getting a job.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Unemployment Benefits Expire for Millions Without Pushback From BidenExpanded unemployment benefits that have kept millions of Americans afloat during the pandemic expired on Monday, setting up an abrupt cutoff of assistance to 7.5 million people as the Delta variant rattles the pandemic recovery.
The end of the aid came without objection from President Biden and his top economic advisers, who have become caught in a political fight over the benefits and are now banking on other federal help and an autumn pickup in hiring to keep vulnerable families from foreclosure and food lines.
The $1.9 trillion economic aid package...
From the Right
On Labor Day 2021, the end of enhanced unemployment benefits bring hope to US small businessesLabor Day is traditionally an opportunity to recognize the contributions made by workers, but this year it's small businesses that are celebrating. That's because this Labor Day coincides with the end of enhanced federal unemployment benefits that were paying people not to work. These payouts have contributed to a record labor shortage that prevents small businesses from bringing the economy back. Oxford Economics estimates that roughly 11.2 million Americans will lose some form of federal unemployment benefits this week. This will help fill the 10.1 million available jobs nationwide.
On Friday, the Labor Department released its...
From the Center
Unemployment benefits ended for millions of Americans. These extended pandemic programs may provide helpEnhanced federal unemployment insurance put in place during the coronavirus pandemic ended this weekend, after nearly a year and a half.
That means some 9 million people will lose all benefits and another 3 million will see weekly checks reduced by $300, according to an estimate by The Century Foundation.
The end of the federal unemployment insurance programs comes as the delta variant of coronavirus continues to threaten the economic recovery from the pandemic and sweeping lockdowns to curb the disease last year.
At the same time, a few other...
AllSides Picks
April 28th, 2024
April 26th, 2024
April 25th, 2024
April 25th, 2024