The Kansas Department of Labor says the federal Continued Assistance Act has reauthorized the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.
This means an additional $300 weekly benefit for people who are eligible for at least $1 of their unemployment compensation benefit amount. The $300 benefit is half the original amount at the start of the pandemic.
The reauthorized program started payouts Friday and will continue until March 20 unless adjusted.
The Labor Department has been sharply criticized, both by the general public and by lawmakers, for its slow response to the pandemic-based demand since March. Department administrators and Governor Laura Kelly have said the equipment was antiquated and there wasn’t enough staff, but lawmakers also say the department was authorized for more personnel but pulled back staffing levels shortly after that approval. Like other labor departments across the country, it is also battling a raft of identity theft cases. Having said that, the Labor Department says it has paid out almost four million weekly claims with a total of over $2.6 billion since the pandemic started.
For more information, go online to www.GetKansasBenefits.gov.
