After Governor Andrew Cuomo said that New York State would not participate in the federal program, created through executive order signed by President Donald Trump, to boost unemployment benefits by at least $300 for unemployed workers – many in the region were concerned.
“I panicked, I was like I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Wayne County native Erin Smith told News10NBC. They had reported that Governor Cuomo would not be applying for additional unemployment benefits.
Now though, Governor Cuomo says the state will be applying for the Lost Wages Assistance program through FEMA.
It could take a few weeks, but unemployed workers in New York should see a boost in their benefits in the weeks to come.
The program was created through Trump’s executive order due to gridlock in Congress.
Budget Director Robert Mujica told News10NBC that the requirement changed for states to provide 25%. Governor Cuomo had previously mentioned his concerns about the legality of the program.
“Now that the federal government has blinked and will no longer make states provide funding they do not have, New York State will apply for the Lost Wages Assistance program. As Governor Cuomo has said, politics does not impact policy — especially during a pandemic — and if New Yorkers are in need, this administration will do everything we can to support them. But make no mistake, this does not absolve Washington from doing its job, and they must pass a comprehensive aid package that provides a stable extension of unemployment benefits, repeals the SALT cap and supports local and state governments. Anything else would simply be unacceptable,” Mujica told News10NBC.
The program could run through the end of December.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].