May 6, 2020
On March 27, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to address the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to provide financial relief to people and small businesses impacted by the health crisis.
In part, the CARES Act temporarily enhances unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through three key federal programs, detailed below, as well as by expanding coverage for state programs:
One major aspect of the CARES program is the eased availability of state unemployment benefits. As the number of unemployed individuals continues to rise, they will face fewer barriers to receiving state aid.
A second major aspect of the CARES program is the availability of federal unemployment benefits, which supplement existing state programs to increase total available funds and to allow recipients to continue to collect assistance once they have used up the monies provided by the states.
Eligibility Requirements to Participate in the Federal Programs:
Under the CARES Act, employees can receive additional money under the federal programs if they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work because:
Expanded Federal Benefits Under Three New Programs:
The combination of increased state and federal unemployment insurance benefit programs will enable both more people to participate and gain much-needed income and will increase the amount of money provided to applicants to help them get by while they are without their usual earned income.
Stay tuned for new developments! There are changes and new provisions introduced on a regular basis. This is a very dynamic area of law, as these circumstances are new and evolving.
By Angela Reddock-Wright, Esq., Employment Mediator, Arbitrator & Workplace Investigator in Los Angeles
DISCLAIMER:
Nothing in this blog, written materials or otherwise is intended as legal advice by the Reddock Law Group, Managing Partner Angela Reddock-Wright, or any person associated with the firm. This blog is intended for educational purposes only. The Reddock Law Group does not represent clients in legal matters. We are a full-service mediation, neutral, investigations, and alternative dispute resolution firm. For legal advice, please contact a licensed attorney with experience in employment law.