Missouri to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits Saturday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Starting tomorrow, the state is set to end all federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
Missouri is among the first states to end pandemic-related programs for people who are out of work. At least 24 states led by Republican governors have decided to end pandemic-related unemployment benefits early for residents.
The federal program, which provides Americans with an extra $300 a week, is not scheduled to end until September 6, 2021. However, after this Saturday, unemployed Missourians will no longer receive the extra $300 a week.
In total, Missouri will be ending six pandemic related funding for unemployment.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
- Emergency Unemployment Relief for Government Entities and Nonprofit Organizations
- Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
- 100 Percent Reimbursement of Short-Time Compensation Benefit Costs Paid Under State Law
- Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation
In a May press release announcing the additional funding ending, Gov. Mike Parson said he believes addressing the labor shortage is the way to get back to a full economic recovery.
“The solution to close this gap is not the excessive spending of taxpayer dollars by the federal government, but rather getting people back to work and to a sense of normalcy for themselves and their families" Governor Parson said. "Today’s action ensures that we will fill existing jobs as well as the thousands of new jobs coming to our state as businesses continue to invest and expand in Missouri.”
But some experts argue the state will suffer because spending will go down as a result of these benefits being cut.
Recent data released by the state show the week of June 6 reported the second-lowest unemployment claims in over a year, with 6,006 people filing for relief. The week of May 22 was the lowest recorded claim number in over a year, with 5,852 people filing for relief.
Compared to this time last year, unemployment claims have drastically dropped. During the week of June 6, 2020, 19,820 people filed for unemployment in Missouri. Back in April 2020, unemployment claims rose as high as almost 60,000 for the state of Missouri.
The latest reported unemployment rate was in April, when the Show-Me State had a 4.1% unemployment rate.
The current minimum wage for the state sits at $10.30 an hour.
The dissolved funding for the programs in Missouri will go into effect on Saturday at 11:59 p.m.
