Questions regarding the future of certain COVID-19 relief programs are now up in the air as indecision continues at the federal level.
With President Donald Trump refusing to sign the recent stimulus package passed by Congress and the Senate last week, both the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation programs came to an end Saturday. Both PUA and PEUC are federal CARES Act programs.
PEUC has provided eligible residents who have gone through their state benefits with up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. PUA meanwhile, has provided benefits to residents not traditionally covered by unemployment insurance including self-employed people and religious, contract or gig workers.
President Trump has openly stated his displeasure with the $2.3 trillion stimulus package on more than one occasion over the past week. Among his issues with the bill is the plan for $600 one-time direct deposit payments for citizens.
Trump has stated that he does not feel the amount is sufficient enough to support those who are struggling due to the pandemic and has expressed a desire to see those payments increased to $2,000, however, that move was blocked by House Republicans on Thursday.
In addition to the $600 direct payments, the proposed bill included $300 per week to people needing enhanced federal unemployment benefits through mid-March, $69 billion total for coronavirus testing and vaccine distribution, $25 billion in rental assistance, $15 billion for theaters and other live venues, $82 billion for local schools, colleges, and universities, and $10 billion for child care.
Trump’s refusal to sign the package into law could leave around 14 million Americans without benefits. A partial government shutdown could also be coming Tuesday if Congress is unable to agree on a stop-gap government funding bill before that time.
The moratorium on residential evictions as announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early September is set to end New Year’s Eve unless a new relief bill is passed by Congress and signed by President Trump.
