Governor Scott requests Legislature to approve $100/week additionally
By Ellie French/VTDigger
Vermont has received $38.5 million in federal money to provide temporary payments of $300 per week to people collecting unemployment benefits.
The new “lost wages” program from the federal government comes after $600-a-week unemployment payments expired.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)approved Vermont’s application for a $35.8 million grant through the Lost Wage Assistance Program. The program covers the initial three weeks of benefits, after which states can apply for additional funding, if the program remains open.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this month authorizing FEMA to use up to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief Fund to cover the payments. Vermont applied for the funds mid-August.
Gov. Phil Scott has also requested $20 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds from the Legislature for an additional $100 a week in unemployment insurance for eligible Vermonters, bringing the total to $400 a week, for three weeks.
The funds cover the weeks ending on Aug. 1, Aug. 8, and Aug. 15. Both the federal funds, and the state’s additional $100, are set to expire at the same time.
“There’s not a big pot of money there, so that will run out in about three to four weeks without further action by Congress and the president and so forth, so we’re following the same timeline,” Scott told reporters at his twice-weekly press conference Tuesday.
As of Monday, 26 states had been approved for the added benefits, and 10 more either applied or signaled they planned to apply. Michael Harrington, commissioner of the Department of Labor, said because so many states applied and have been approved, it’s very likely there won’t be any funding left after the first three weeks.
The LWA program applies to claimants who were eligible for unemployment benefits as of Aug. 1.
Scott said it will probably be two to three weeks before Vermonters actually receive the money, even though the state has already gotten the go-ahead from the federal government.
“There’s a lot of restrictions and guidelines and so forth, so it’s not going to be as easy as it might seem to get that money out,” Scott said.
Harrington said the state will use the unemployment information it already has on file to make the payments.
However, a key difference between the new benefit and the original $600/week Vermonters were seeing from the federal government is that the new benefit won’t be combined into one big check with claimants’ regular unemployment insurance benefit — largely because the new program is so short-term.
Instead, Vermonters will see their regular unemployment or PUA check, and a totally separate check for $300, Harrington said.
“And we’ll probably end up issuing different separate checks for each week of the benefit,” Harrington noted. “But we may issue all of those at the same time.”
The governor called the extra payments a “necessary step” to bring Vermonters’ financial security as the pandemic continues.
“This supplemental assistance offered through President Trump’s executive order will help those who haven’t been able to return to work through this difficult period, and we continue to urge Congress and the White House to work together on a longer-term solution for these displaced workers,” Scott said in a statement.
I didn’t begin receiving unemployment until June when I applied after loosing all my clients last week of March. Then I was put into a different program July 25th that ended my additional $600. I lost approximately 10weeks of the additional $600. Unemployment told me I would be receiving a check from the state to compensate for this. Here it is October and haven’t received the check. Now we are waiting on the additional $100 plus another 3 weeks of the additional $300. My mortgage is approaching three months behind and will go into foreclosure on that date. The banks will not help. Our elected officials have the responsibility of the citizens safety, so when many of us lose our homes with winter coming what are you going to do then?!!
Has anyone received the extra $100/week yet?
Yes I wanna know where that extra $100 a week is for first three weeks and if we wait another month for the other three weeks again.
If you call the labor department they’ll answer the phone just to say they don’t know! What kind of help is that?
This is money owed for over 60 days to us and landlords charge late fees!
Our state is full of manure and do the math they have plenty left over but it’s not getting into the proper hands. Vote them all out in November seems the only choice left.
This is an insult to Vermont workers!
This is rediculous that it was approved In. August still nothing almost October I’d hate to see how long it would take if it were pre digital age.
I agree! I don’t understand what is taking so long and I wish they would tell us when they plan to mail them out!
Here we are now October V nobody has received the extra 300 from FEMA in the mail yet? I just spoke with an unemployment officer and ask them about these FEMA checks today and they told me they could not tell me when they would be here I said you have no idea they said nope I also asked if I was qualified and they asked me if I had answered that extra question on unemployment that has now shown up asking if I was partially or fully unemployed due to and the answer is yes and the lady told me then you’re all sets just a waiting game now!!!!
I received a check a couple weeks ago, the check was for three weeks (900) the extra 100 was not included
When will the second check coming out for the 300
The 38 million dollars from FEMA should be enough to cover 5 weeks of unemployment with 23000 claims I’ve done the math so I’m not sure why they claim there’s only 3 weeks available
Great spelling!!!
Are the checks going to be mailed or the direct deposit ? Vt needs to update their system sooo slow.People are hurting I’ve lost 1200.a month.
Almost 2 weeks ago i got an email questionnaire directly from unemployment on those 3 weeks in August. Stating if I’m approved i will recive a retro check. I lost my job due to the covid!! I certainly hope I qualify but again its been 2 weeks now!!! I need that money!! All of us do!!! What the heck is taking so long?? Must be amazing to go home to there perfect lives, homes, familys, big bank accounts, with no worriers on tomorrow may bring!!! Mean while us little people are drowning!!! I need that money!! Winter is coming quick, i dont know how me and my children will survive!! They have the power to help ease some of our worries!! God for bid they actually do something in a timely manor to help the people!!!
There’s supposed to be 6 weeks approved !! Vermont only received 3 !wheres the other 3 weeks ??
I hope to god that the state has taken some of this money that they are getting,to implement a new unemployment system meaning new computer’s and what ever else they need,instead of relying on a 40 year old broken down system,I hope they have all thought this out, so the big delays don’t ever happen again,incase they do for down the road…
Please try and send our checks asap my rent was due last month an my landlord is being understanding but im goin on 3 months behind and next its eviction. Me an my son will not have a place to live and its getting cold out so please help us all. Thank you for your help. God Bless us all. Amen
I called also they said they dont actually have a date as to when the money will go out. You would think they would be a bit faster alot of states have already issued payments
When is Vermont going to start paying this money?? People need it now!
It would be nice if they could get there stuff together a little quicker. I was relying on having that money to pay rent this month as my job has not fully opened up. The president approved this money almost a month ago and now we are told it will not be coming out for two to three more weeks and unlike the last time will be in separate checks…
Please try and send our checks asap my rent was due last month an my landlord is being understanding but im goin on 3 months behind and next its eviction. Me an my son will not have a place to live and its getting cold out so please help us all. Thank you for your help. God Bless us all. Amen
FOLKS THIS MAY NOT HAPPEN. When I spoke with unemployment here in Montpelier, they said that they received NO DIRECTIVE to send out additional monies!
Youre stupid.
*you’re
When will the extra 100 be given?