Those out of work may see unemployment checks in their mailboxes within just a couple weeks, according to White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow.
On Saturday, President Trump signed executive orders regarding coronavirus economic relief due to Congress’s inability to reach a deal on a second stimulus package. Trump’s orders would call for a payroll tax cut, enhanced unemployment benefits, an eviction moratorium, and student loan relief, but they did not include a second stimulus check that was provided in the first relief package.
Kudlow said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that the federal government intends to match $400 with an additional $400 unemployment coming from states providing a total of an $800 benefit.
“It should be 800 bucks,” Kudlow said, later continuing, “If the states step up, we’re prepared to match, that should come out $400 federal, $400 states.”
He added people can expect their first checks within the month.
“I think it’s going to be in a couple of weeks,” Kudlow said.
The $400 is lower than the originally provided $600-per-week benefit for unemployment, which Republicans thought was too high because some people earned more on unemployment than through their employer. The $600 benefits expired on July 31.
The coronavirus upended millions of jobs since its outbreak in April, leaving many workers to rely on unemployment. The unemployment rate in July fell to 10.2%, with the U.S. economy adding just under 2 million jobs.
