The pandemic’s resurgence caused the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits to rise last week for the first time in nearly four months – evidence of the deepening economic pain the outbreak is causing.
The increase in weekly jobless claims to 1.4 million served to underscore the outsize role the unemployment insurance system is playing among the nation’s safety net programs — just when a US$600 weekly federal aid payment for the jobless is set to expire at the end of this week.
Pritty Militant, is an electrician and musician, says the US$600 has allowed her to keep her family safe. She said that if the pandemic has a 2nd wave and kids don’t go back to school, “we’re all screwed.”
Her sentiment was echoed by James Adams, an unemployed security guard.
He says the uncertainty around if the benefit will continue has kept him up at night.
Adams, a Trump supporter, said he understands Republicans hesitancy about continuing the benefit but says right now it is a real life line for him and his wife.
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