Federal Pandemic Unemployment Benefits End July 31

On March 18, 2020 former President Trump signed into law, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) just as the nation was being shut down by the coronavirus. A few days later he signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) to respond to the COVID pandemic. This allowed states across the nation to extend their unemployment benefits to thousands of workers impacted by the pandemic.

As the country strives to put COVID behind us, more and more businesses are reopening and putting Americans back to work. It's good timing too, because a lot states are getting ready to bring the extended unemployment benefits to an end. Louisiana is one of them! The Louisiana Department of Labor recently announced a new state law, ACT No. 276, will raise the unemployment benefits by $28. This will be the first time in more than 10-yrs unemployment has seen an increase and it goes into effect on Jan 1, 2022.

Unfortunately, the implementation of the new law, also brings the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) benefits to an end. On Saturday July 31, 2021 other federally funded programs will also come to an end and they are as follows:

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides unemployment for individuals who don't qualify for benefits.

• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), “regular” unemployment claims.

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), the $300 in weekly supplemental federal unemployment benefits.

For more information call LWC Public Affairs (225) 342-3035 or click here.