California announced on Saturday that the state's application for unemployment benefit is already approved and it has already received $4.5 billion from the federal government. 

California
(Photo : pixabay)

California now joins 18 other states which have enrolled in the $300 weekly unemployment program of the federal government. This is after Pres. Trump signed and issued an executive order that expanded the unemployment benefits after Congress did not act on the second round of the stimulus payments. 

According to the published article in Forbes, California made the announcement on Saturday and said that they have already received the amount of $4.5 billion from the federal government. This will enable the state to pay $300 weekly unemployment claims to millions of Californians. 

The California Employment Development Department also confirmed that the state's application was already approved. In its website, it says that the state has secured $4.5 billion for Lost Wages Assistance Program. Qualified individuals are to receive at least $100 per week for a period of three weeks. 

The Employment Development Department in the State of California set the following to qualify for the LWA supplemental payment or unemployment claims:

  • Currently eligible to receive at least $100 per week in benefits
  • Those who have provided a self-certification that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. 

However, there is no detail yet as to when the distribution will start. What is clear right now is when the $300 is added to the state's benefits, the claimants in California nearly doubled as well. 

Moreover, White House Senior Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow said that the fund or the approved budget for all states will be available in bank accounts next week or in the next two weeks. The budget will be coming from the unspent fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The Employment Development Department also said through a news release that they will provide more information about the approved program once the fund is available. They also hoped that the state will receive the fund as early as next week. 

The $4.5 billion for the Lost Wages Assistance Program from the Federal government is just an initial aid. The state could receive more. However, Governor Newsom said that the state cannot add $100 because it will cost $700 million each week. 

The state governor admitted earlier this week that the $300 unemployment check is not enough but he will look into other fundings for the Californians to meet their needs.

Labor Secretary Julie Su also said on Saturday "As we modernize and strengthen the state's unemployment insurance delivery system, we will continue to leverage any additional resources the federal government makes available."

Despite this, millions of Americans are still hoping that Congress will act on the second round of the relief aid that includes $1,200 stimulus payments and other benefits. 

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