HARRISBURG, Pa. - Over two million Pennsylvanians have filed unemployment claims since the onset of the pandemic. While additional money is coming in from different sources - such as FEMA - officials say they are only temporary fixes. And as WLVR’s Genesis Ortega reports they are calling on Congress to provide additional relief for jobless residents.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry gave an update this week on what they’re doing to keep up with unemployment claims in the Commonwealth.
L&I Secretary Jerry Oleksiak, says he expects to borrow money to fill the state’s dwindling trust fund until Congress can step in.
“Governor Wolf and I prefer and continue calling for congressional Republicans to make this process simpler and just extend FPUC, the Federal Pandemic unemployment compensation, which is the extra $600 which ended on July 25,” said Oleksiak.
The state was recently approved for $1.5 billion in FEMA grants - money originally intended for storm disaster relief. This will provide eligible Pennsylvanians with an extra $300 per week - retroactive to August 1.
The program will end if Congress passes additional COVID relief, funds are depleted, or by December 27, whichever comes first.