The state of Ohio will stop participating in the federal government's supplemental benefits program, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. That program, which gives an extra $300 a week to the jobless, will end on June 26, the governor said. The supplement has been available since 2020, part of the pandemic stimulus measures passed by Congress. It was made available through Sept. 6."Early in the pandemic, Congress put in place the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to help Americans get through the most difficult economic days of the crisis," the governor said."When this program was put in place, it was a lifeline for many Americans at a time when the only weapon we had in fighting the virus was to slow it’s spread through social distancing, masking and sanitization. That is no longer the case. That is no longer our only tool in this fight. This assistance was always intended to be temporary." The governor attributed his decision to labor shortages in many sectors, saying the June 26 deadline will give people who fear going back to work enough time to receive the vaccination.Ohio's regular state unemployment is still available.Ohio joins a list growing list of states who have announced they would drop the program.Montana was first to announce they were ending the benefits on May 4. Since then, it has been a domino effect, with Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming following suit.This is a breaking news story. WLWT will update this story as details become available.
The state of Ohio will stop participating in the federal government's supplemental benefits program, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday.
That program, which gives an extra $300 a week to the jobless, will end on June 26, the governor said.
The supplement has been available since 2020, part of the pandemic stimulus measures passed by Congress. It was made available through Sept. 6.
"Early in the pandemic, Congress put in place the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to help Americans get through the most difficult economic days of the crisis," the governor said.
"When this program was put in place, it was a lifeline for many Americans at a time when the only weapon we had in fighting the virus was to slow it’s spread through social distancing, masking and sanitization. That is no longer the case. That is no longer our only tool in this fight. This assistance was always intended to be temporary."
The governor attributed his decision to labor shortages in many sectors, saying the June 26 deadline will give people who fear going back to work enough time to receive the vaccination.
Ohio's regular state unemployment is still available.
Ohio joins a list growing list of states who have announced they would drop the program.
Montana was first to announce they were ending the benefits on May 4. Since then, it has been a domino effect, with Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming following suit.
This is a breaking news story. WLWT will update this story as details become available.
Source link
