WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — After President Trump signed an Aug. 8th Executive Memorandum in the face of Congressional Democrat's inaction, $300 in Extended Unemployment Benefits and $100 in State Funding (for those states opting-in,) is slated to roll out as part of weekly payments by the end of this month according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA,) which is distributing the money.
Congressional Democrats and the Trump White House were negotiating on a broader stimulus package earlier this month to extend the Federal Unemployment Benefits, but those talks stalled as Democrats pushed to include a wish-list of expensive programs – many unrelated to the CoronaVirus pandemic, Republicans said.FEMA, in an FAQ-pdf, said the agency “awarded the first four grants on August 14th,” and that:
“Our experience to date is that FEMA will be able to approve applications very quickly, depending on completeness and sufficiency. Once the grant award is approved by FEMA and signed by a state/territory, funding will then be available within one business day of receipt of the fully executed grant award,” according to the agency.
“At least one state has estimated it will have all payments out retroactive to August 1 in less than one week from grant award,” it said, underscoring that the timeline will vary from state to state.
“FEMA approval time depends on whether the (state's) application is complete and addresses all grant requirements.”
“At least one state has estimated it will have all payments out retroactive to August 1 in less than one week from grant award,” it said, underscoring that the timeline will vary from state to state.
“FEMA approval time depends on whether the (state's) application is complete and addresses all grant requirements.”
Citing the Department of Labor, FEMA said it estimates the “average of three weeks from” from Aug. 8th would be around Aug. 29th. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said that the additional funds would take about two weeks to be distributed.
In the CARES Act, approved by Congress in March, additional payments of $600 per week (on top of state benefits) were distributed through the end of July, when the extended unemployment benefits expired.
On Aug. 16, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told CNN that President Trump would be willing to sign a limited stimulus extension deal, in which U.S. Postal Service funding would be tied to another stimulus payment of up to $1,200, as well as unemployment benefits and an extension of the Small-Business Loan Payment Protection Program (PPP).
“We have got a lot of people that are hurting out there. And this issue is key. If the Democrats feel like this is a big issue – and I've talked to some of the more moderate Democrats and a few progressives ones as well — and if this is a big deal, let’s put it with a stimulus check to go to Americans,” Meadows said, adding that Congress should “put it with an extended unemployment benefits,” as well as “with small business reform in terms of the PPP and extending that.”“Will the president sign that? Yes, he will. And I’m certain that whether it’s $10 billion or $25 billion or something in between, we can do that,” Meadows said.
Republicans have argued recently that the original $600 benefit included in the CARES Act often created a disincentive for people to return to work, and also was unfair to taxpayers who remained at work.
While failing to come to an agreement with the Trump Administration, Democrats have at the same time said that expiration of the unemployment benefits would slow down economic recovery and lead to financial damage.
