Another 22 were cleared for $ 300 in extra help
Three states will accept the Trump administration’s expanded unemployment benefit, and the unemployed in nearly two dozen other states will receive $ 300 a week.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 8 for an extra payment of $ 400, but many governors discredited the proposed 75-25 split, prompting the administration to introduce a second option.
That alternative allows states to provide $ 300 more a week to the unemployed. The money comes from the federal government.
Twenty-one states have requested such an option and have already received approval.
Three others chose the original option, contributing 25 percent and giving the unemployed the most money available.
“Without a doubt, period, West Virginia is going to pay for it,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) told reporters earlier this month. “We do it with great pleasure.”
The state’s contribution is likely to come from money West Virginia received through the CARES Act, a stimulus intended to provide relief from the pandemic-related crisis, that was saved and not used.
“While there is still some uncertainty with this new program, it is too important to get these dollars to our families,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) told reporters Aug. 19.
“I think an extra $ 100 is very important,” he added, saying he would use the money from the CARES Act.
And Montana applied for and received approval for the $ 400 option last week.
“I am grateful that the Governor and his team have been able to quickly assess our state’s means of meeting state funding and then act to ensure that the unemployed in Montana get the maximum benefit from this interim program,” said in a statement the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Labor, Brenda Nordlund.
States must apply to the government for the extra help, either an extra $ 300 a week or $ 400.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday that Kentucky received approval. Montana received authorization on August 18. West Virginia has not yet received approval.
Several states received authorization on Saturday, bringing the total number of states eligible for the $ 300 weekly payments to 21.
Those states are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.
Twelve other states have already filed, or are planning to do so. Those are: Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington State.
South Dakota last week became the first state to officially decline the offer.
“My administration is very appreciative of the additional flexibility this effort would have provided, but South Dakota is in the fortunate position of not having to accept it. South Dakota’s economy, never having been shut down, has recovered nearly 80 percent of our job losses, ”Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said in a statement.
Officials in 13 states are still not sure if they will apply to FEMA for assistance.
Those states are: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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