FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/19/20
CONTACT
Zoe Iacovino
Office of Senator Patricia Jehlen
BOSTON – Senators Jehlen and Lesser, Representatives Hay, Sabadosa, Nguyen, and Mark announced legislation today that would enhance unemployment benefits for 17,000 people in Massachusetts by as much as $1800 each. Thousands of people were left out of the Lost Wages Assistance Grant to extend $300 weekly payment boosts to people collecting unemployment benefits by a restrictive Trump Administration rule.
In August, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began accepting applications for the Lost Wages Assistance program. The Trump White House included a restriction that banned people receiving less than $100 a week in benefits from receiving the LWA boost of $300 a week.
Massachusetts was approved for 6 weeks of LWA compensation for every eligible recipient, covering the weeks ending August 1 to September 5. Numerous states acted to increase weekly benefit amounts, including neighboring RI and NH, so that no recipient of unemployment would be left out of receiving the boost. A majority of the legislature wrote a letter on September 24 to Secretary Rosalin Acosta to ask the state to implement a similar increase in weekly benefit amounts for Massachusetts recipients.
“This legislation would provide critical dollars to families struggling to make ends meet,” said Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate Chair of Labor and Workforce Development. “With the threat of eviction now back on the table for unemployed families, we should do everything we can to get families the assistance they need to stay in their homes and stay healthy during this pandemic.”
In discussions with the legislature, the administration has indicated that with a small investment of state dollars to increase base benefits retroactively, up to $31M could be returned to the state from the FEMA program. The Department of Unemployment Assistance has been negotiating with FEMA since the legislators issued their request. In an answer legislators received, FEMA advised: “It is possible to make an individual an eligible claimant for LWA from the week ending August 1, 2020, if they are monetarily eligible for at least a $100 weekly benefit amount...”
“We face an urgent moment as a once in a century pandemic combines with the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression,” said Sen. Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow). “This urgently needed boost will help nearly 17,000 of the most vulnerable people in our Commonwealth to purchase food, pay rent, buy warm clothes, and alleviate unnecessary hardship.”
"By making a small adjustment, Massachusetts would be bringing $31 million into the state when we need it the most, money that will by and large go directly into our local economies,” said Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa (D-Northampton).
“Right now, a shortfall of as little as $18 is standing in the way of people getting $1800 in their pockets. This is something the state can and must remedy.”
"Massachusetts should fight for every federal dollar it can get to assist people who are struggling with unemployment," said Rep. Tram Nguyen (D - Andover), adding, "Many people have been hit hard by the economic devastation of Covid-19, and raising the assistance for a small group of people to $100 will quadruple their weekly benefits for 6 weeks. Not only is it significant for the families we're helping, but it also brings money into our state to boost our economic recovery. It's a very simple, yet powerful tool."
The legislation would authorize the Baker-Polito Administration to implement an increase to unemployment compensation for every recipient in Massachusetts not receiving at least $100 in weekly benefits. This enhancement would be applied retroactively to roughly 17,000 recipients. The bills (SD3084/HD5355) were assigned to committee on Monday.
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