Blog Posts > W.Va. Approved for Federal Enhanced Unemployment Benefit, but Questions Arise Over How Far that Goes
August 28, 2020

W.Va. Approved for Federal Enhanced Unemployment Benefit, but Questions Arise Over How Far that Goes

West Virginia MetroNews – West Virginia leaders announced the state has been approved for a $68,269,946 FEMA grant to provide $300 a week in enhanced unemployment benefits. The state has pledged an additional $100 a week. Read full article.

But there were already questions about just how far that money would stretch.

The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, a think tank, questioned how far the available federal money would stretch.

“Not only is the Lost Wages Supplement providing smaller benefits to workers, the $68 million grant West Virginia has received is only enough to provide benefits for three to four weeks at best,” stated Sean O’Leary, senior policy analyst.

Moreover, he said, “the $400/week Lost Wages Supplement is an inadequate replacement for the $600 in emergency unemployment benefits that more than 60,000 West Virginians were receiving until the program expired last month.”

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