Assistance program aims to help those unemployed due to COVID-19

Some Long Islanders collecting unemployment benefits could soon be receiving an additional $300 through the Lost Wages Assistance Program.

News 12 Staff

Sep 11, 2020, 9:30 PM

Updated 1,466 days ago

Share:

Assistance program aims to help those unemployed due to COVID-19
Some Long Islanders collecting unemployment benefits could soon be receiving an additional $300 through the Lost Wages Assistance Program.
New Yorkers receiving traditional unemployment insurance and those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance are eligible for the program that is being funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget.
President Donald Trump approved using $44 billion of FEMA funds. The first of three weeks of payments are expected to arrive next week.
“The state is in the process of telling those on unemployment insurance whether they're eligible or not. And one of the eligibility requirements is that you have lost your job due to COVID-19,” says economic analyst Marty Cantor.
The state Department of Labor says it has applied for three additional weeks of the Lost Wages Assistance Program. Its website currently says it’s "unclear at this time" how many weeks of payments will ultimately be released by the federal government.
Cantor said the uncertainly comes as Congress failed to approve a second long-term stimulus package.
“This is all they're going to get and it's woefully inadequate to carry families and businesses through this crisis,” he says.
It's estimated that 2 million unemployed New Yorkers will receive the additional $900 total. The Department of Labor says it will reach out to all those eligible, so there's no need for you to contact the state.