With just three weeks until expanded federal unemployment income expires, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today that 27,202 North Carolinians filed initial unemployment claims this past week.
More than 1.1 million North Carolinians have now lost their jobs and filed for unemployment insurance since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Expanded federal unemployment payments provided by Congress in the CARES Act are set to expire on July 31. According to the Economic Policy Institute, letting the $600 expire would cost more than 5 million jobs over the next year.
The state of North Carolina also has one of the shortest maximum unemployment insurance benefit duration (tied with Florida at just 12 weeks), meaning those who lost their job in March and April currently or will soon have no income.
What do you think should be done for those who now find themselves without income?