Gov. Andy Beshear announced Wednesday that the state is applying for the $300 in additional unemployment insurance assistance from the federal government. He said the state would kick in an additional $100 using CARES Act relief funds, meaning Kentuckians receiving benefits would get $400 total each week.
Kentuckians receiving unemployment benefits for the weeks of July 26-Aug. 15 would be eligible. Previously, Congress approved an extra $600 weekly benefit for those on unemployment — although that benefit expired near the end of July.
The governor said that the Labor Cabinet will file an application Thursday for the Lost Wages Assistance Program that is being operated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Only a handful of stats have so far been approved for the program and most have chosen to fund the program solely with federal dollars, meaning recipients will receive $300.
“We have decided to provide an extra $100 using CARES Act money. Kentucky’s portion will be approximately $8 million per week, for a total of $24 million over the three-week initial grant period,” Beshear said.
He cautioned that while FEMA should approve the application in 48-72 hours, reconfiguring the computer systems to pay the added $400 is likely to take about two weeks. Therefore, benefits recipients should not expect the payments until sometime in early September.
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