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Help programs that could help you when unemployment benefits end

2021-08-27T12:56:03.119Z


The end of this extra aid will affect some 7.5 million Americans who are victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and who will be left without that support. We explain what other financial aid programs you can access in the coming months.


On September 6, the weekly bonus of $ 300 that reinforced the unemployment benefit is expected to expire due to the improvement in the economic situation and the decrease in the unemployment rate to 5.4% in July.

Some 7.5 million Americans will be left without benefits abruptly, and another million will have their weekly unemployment checks reduced.

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At the same time, other pandemic-era programs have recently been extended and may offer help to those still out of work, or make up for some of the lost extra money.

This is what unemployed Americans will be able to count on in the coming months.

1. Power benefits

Beginning in October, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will increase across the board for the first time since 1975. The median adjustment will represent an increase of approximately 25% from pre-age levels. pandemic.

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The average increase will be $ 36.24 more per person, per month, or about $ 1.19 more a day, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the average benefit was about $ 121 per month per person.

"It's very important to low-income families with children," said Lauren Bauer, an economics fellow at the Brookings Institution and associated with the Hamilton Project.

Row in front of a job center reopened for in-person dating in Louisville, Kentucky, April 15, 2021.REUTERS / Amira Karaoud

For those who already receive SNAP benefits, nothing more needs to be done to get help in October.

If you may be eligible for SNAP but are not currently receiving it, you can apply for assistance through your state of residence.

There are also other benefits of eating that will help children.

During the summer, electronic benefit transfers will continue for eligible minors.

And, in the fall, schools will offer universal free meals to all children, benefiting many more children than normal, according to Bauer.

2. Pause in paying student loans

The U.S. Department of Education extended the moratorium on federal student loan payments and interest one last time in August, until January 31, 2022.

That means some 42 million people with student debt don't have to make a payment on most federal loans until next February and they won't see their debts grow.

In the meantime, people who are concerned about not being able to resume payments in February, or not paying as much per month as they used to, should check with their student loan servicers now.

They may be able to change payment plans, which would mean they owe less each month.

3. Improved child tax credit

For those with eligible children, the child tax credit can provide some additional relief upon termination of unemployment insurance.

In August, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US Department of the Treasury sent about $ 15 billion in monthly advance payments to 61 million children.

That was the second of six payments of the enhanced child tax credit, which began in July.

The enhanced credit increased the existing benefit to $ 3,000 from $ 2,000 and added a bonus of $ 600 for those under 6 for fiscal year 2021.

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Half of the credit is being distributed to families in monthly installments from July to December: for families receiving the full credit, it will be $ 300 per month for children under 6 and $ 250 per month for children 6 and under to 17 years.

The median payment in August was $ 428, according to the IRS and the Treasury Department.

Families will receive four more monthly payments until the end of the year and will get the second half of the credit when they file their 2021 income tax return next year.

More helps on the table

There may also be more help in the coming months.

The Democrats' $ 3.6 trillion budget proposal would expand many social safety net programs and provide more aid to Americans.

It would especially benefit low-income workers and those with children.

If approved, the budget would expand the child tax credit, earned income tax credit, child and dependent care tax credit and paid family and medical leave, according to a plan summary.

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It would also extend universal preschool education to 3- and 4-year-olds, childcare benefits for working families, and make community college tuition free.

House Democrats aim to advance the budget resolution as early as next week.

At the same time, Democrats also hope to pass a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2021-08-27

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