The six-week emergency unemployment benefits approved by President Donald Trump last month are almost exhausted in most states that availed it. Will there be another executive order for its extension? 

Donald Trump
(Photo : Reutersconnect)

The weekly unemployment benefit is part of the relief measures under the CARES Act that Trump signed into law in March. Qualified unemployed residents in the country were able to receive $600 weekly unemployment claims.

After it expired in July, Trump has released an executive order that extended the benefits for three weeks using the unspent budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The executive order has allowed millions of individuals to receive a total amount of $900. 

Trump extended the unemployment claims for the second time. This time, for another three weeks. It allows residents from states who availed Trump's Lost Wages Assistance to receive a total amount of $1,800. 

Even though the weekly unemployment benefit is part of the new stimulus package that members of the House introduced on Monday, there is still a possibility that the jobless aid can be extended. Trump can issue an executive order that diverts federal funds to the relief aid. 

The Trump administration has already discussed additional executive actions earlier this month that includes weekly unemployment claims. Trump wants to make sure that millions of Americans would be able to cover their basic expenses amid the global pandemic. 

There is also another hint that the White House is preparing for another round of weekly unemployment claims. It can be remembered that White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said that the administration still has billions of dollars left over from the CARES Act that it could put forward to other stimulus measures. He said they intend to release it as soon as possible. 

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had asked the Congress to provide more financial aid such as unemployment claims and PPP loans. They made the appeal when they testified before Congress last week.

The weekly unemployment benefit was included from the HEROES Act to the present stimulus package. The earliest possible time to know if this aid will be extended is within this week.

If both Congress and Senate approve the roughly $2.2 trillion stimulus package that includes weekly unemployment benefits, millions of qualified individuals will receive the aid across the country. It will help those who were furloughed to survive until the end of this year. 

The proposed stimulus package stipulated that unemployment benefits should last until the end of this year. The federal weekly jobless claim is separate from the state unemployment benefit. It is important to note that the amount of state weekly unemployment claims varies from the state you live in. 

Hopefully, whether a bill will be passed or not, Trump will release an executive order to extend the unemployment benefits and other relief aid. It will help millions of individuals across the country to meet their daily needs amid the pandemic. 

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