In a bid to curb the state deficit, France is contemplating the sale of real estate and reducing government spending on office space, according to statements by Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave on Sunday.

According to Reuters, Cazenave emphasised the potential for savings in office space, suggesting a 25 per cent reduction in administrative space and possible real estate sales. He highlighted the excess ratio of office space per civil servant compared to private industry standards.

This move aligns with the evolving work landscape post-COVID-19, with increased remote work. Additionally, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire acknowledged the need for courageous choices, especially in reviewing unemployment benefits for seniors, to achieve the ambitious target of reducing the unemployment rate to 5 per cent by 2027.

Reuters cited Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who spoke on the necessity of revisiting social policies to achieve the government's goal of lowering the unemployment rate to 5 per cent by 2027. Le Maire specifically pointed to the need for bold decisions regarding schemes related to seniors' unemployment benefits.

This statement follows the government's efforts in reducing the unemployment rate from 9 per cent to 7 per cent. The proposed changes aim to address structural issues and ensure sustained economic recovery.

In response to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne's discussions on Thursday, Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave confirmed that the government is pursuing an additional 12 billion euros in spending cuts for the 2025 budget. The overall objective is to trim spending by 16 billion euros for the 2024 budget and an additional 12 billion euros for the 2025 budget.

Cazenave emphasised the government's commitment to reducing deficits, targeting 4.4 per cent of GDP in 2024 and further lowering it to 3.7 per cent in 2025.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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In a bid to curb the state deficit, France is contemplating the sale of real estate and reducing government spending on office space, according to statements by Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave on Sunday.

In a bid to curb the state deficit, France is contemplating the sale of real estate and reducing government spending on office space, according to statements by Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave on Sunday. According to Reuters, Cazenave emphasised the potential for savings in office space, suggesting a 25 per cent reduction in administrative space and possible real estate sales. He highlighted the excess ratio of office space per civil servant compared to private industry standards. This move aligns with the evolving work landscape post-COVID-19, with increased remote work. Additionally, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire acknowledged the need for courageous choices, especially in reviewing unemployment benefits for seniors, to achieve the ambitious target of reducing the unemployment rate to 5 per cent by 2027. Reuters cited Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who spoke on the necessity of revisiting social policies to achieve the government's goal of lowering the unemployment rate to 5 per cent by 2027. Le Maire specifically pointed to the need for bold decisions regarding schemes related to seniors' unemployment benefits. This statement follows the government's efforts in reducing the unemployment rate from 9 per cent to 7 per cent. The proposed changes aim to address structural issues and ensure sustained economic recovery. In response to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne's discussions on Thursday, Budget Minister Thomas Cazenave confirmed that the government is pursuing an additional 12 billion euros in spending cuts for the 2025 budget. The overall objective is to trim spending by 16 billion euros for the 2024 budget and an additional 12 billion euros for the 2025 budget. Cazenave emphasised the government's commitment to reducing deficits, targeting 4.4 per cent of GDP in 2024 and further lowering it to 3.7 per cent in 2025. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

France mulls real estate sales and senior unemployment benefit to tackle budget deficit

Earlier this year, New York created a $2.1 billion fund to help immigrants living in the country without legal permission and others who weathered the pandemic without access to government relief. The Excluded Workers Fund, by far the biggest of its kind in the country, was intended to provide eligible workers with one-time payments to help cover costs associated with joblessness, such as back rent and medical bills.

But just a few months after the state began accepting applications, the fund is about to run out of money, following a blitz in claims and a speedy distribution of aid. State authorities announced they would stop accepting new applications as of Oct. 8, adding that even those who had applied in the two weeks before that deadline might not be approved.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-faces-challenge-as-us-congress-drops-state-aid-to-secure-stimulus-350713">Biden faces challenge as US Congress drops state aid to secure stimulus</a>

The fund’s rapid depletion could mean that tens of thousands of applicants might miss out on payments, according to organizers and state lawmakers who championed the fund.

It could also mean that thousands more may never get an opportunity to apply at all, including upstate workers or other immigrants in more isolated areas who do not have transportation or ready access to the community-based organizations that have been instrumental in helping people assemble their applications.

Soaring demand for the fund has placed pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul to add more money to the pot in what could be an early test of her progressive bona fides as she campaigns next year. Hochul, a Democrat, had made it a priority to fast-track the disbursement of the original $2.1 billion when she ascended to the state’s top job after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August.

The fund, which awards grants of up to $15,600, was one of the most contentious points of debate during negotiations over the state budget and had faced some resistance from Cuomo, who said he was concerned about the risk of fraud.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-covid-19-relief-fund-was-only-for-black-residents-then-came-the-lawsuits-354254">A COVID-19 relief fund was only for black residents. Then came the lawsuits</a>

Republicans, who are in the minority in the Legislature, have pushed back on the idea of diverting additional taxpayer dollars to the fund.

“It’s not surprising that there’s no amount of money that will ever be enough for these advocates,” said Sen. Rob Ortt, the Republican minority leader in the state Senate. “They want to make this a permanent thing.”

To date, the state has distributed just over two-thirds of the fund to about 128,000 people, a fraction of the nearly 351,000 claims that were received.

Hochul said last week that “$2.1 billion was an extraordinary amount of money, and we don’t have that level of money available just to deploy for something like this.”

She added that her administration was instead looking at “short-term” solutions while suggesting that the discussion of additional money might be taken up again early next year when the state Legislature returns to session to pass the next budget.

It is unclear how much support expanding the fund has in the Legislature. While a group of 15 lawmakers, including Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat who sponsored the legislation that created the fund, sent a letter this month to Hochul asking for additional money, Democratic leaders have stayed quiet. Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the majority leader in the Senate, declined to comment, while Carl E. Heastie, the speaker of the Assembly, did not reply to requests for comment.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-move-to-avert-shutdown-but-divisions-imperil-bidens-agenda-417166">Democrats move to avert shutdown, but divisions imperil Biden's agenda</a>

At dozens of community organizations, employees helped workers pull together the materials required to apply as more and more people arrived in September, inspired by the stories of friends and neighbours who had received payment, said Angel Reyes, the Long Island regional coordinator for the Rural and Migrant Ministry.

Reyes said he and his colleagues knew of many more people in the area who were not coming in, whether because of fear their information would be shared with authorities or a lack of transportation options. On Eastern Long Island, home to large numbers of Latin American immigrants who work in landscaping, farming and nurseries, “public transit is virtually nonexistent,” said Reyes, a situation also common in the Hudson Valley and farther upstate.

Many workers work long hours, some of them seven days a week, he added, creating another obstacle.

Abraham de la Cruz, 43, who lives in Hudson, New York, lost most of his restaurant and construction work when the pandemic hit and got by on about $100 a week, he said. He moved in with a relative, sleeping on her couch.

De la Cruz, who attended school only through the second grade in Oaxaca, Mexico, said he did not know about the fund until it was too late to apply, in part because he cannot speak English or read very well. Last week, a friend told him about it.

“I still don’t have stable work,” he said in Spanish. “She asked me how I was doing, and I said, ‘The truth is, not so great.”

Even in New York City, many eligible applicants faced administrative hurdles that they said they did not have time to resolve before the application period ended.

Applicants had to submit proof of identity, residency and income history, such as letters from employers. Many cash earners faced reluctance from employers, who did not want to disclose that they had been paying workers under the table. Others had difficulty providing proof of residency because they live in illegally subdivided apartments or basements or their names are not on a lease.

Earlier this year, New York created a $2.1 billion fund to help immigrants living in the country without legal permission and others who weathered the pandemic without access to government relief.

Earlier this year, New York created a $2.1 billion fund to help immigrants living in the country without legal permission and others who weathered the pandemic without access to government relief. The Excluded Workers Fund, by far the biggest of its kind in the country, was intended to provide eligible workers with one-time payments to help cover costs associated with joblessness, such as back rent and medical bills. But just a few months after the state began accepting applications, the fund is about to run out of money, following a blitz in claims and a speedy distribution of aid. State authorities announced they would stop accepting new applications as of Oct. 8, adding that even those who had applied in the two weeks before that deadline might not be approved. Also read | Biden faces challenge as US Congress drops state aid to secure stimulus The fund’s rapid depletion could mean that tens of thousands of applicants might miss out on payments, according to organizers and state lawmakers who championed the fund. It could also mean that thousands more may never get an opportunity to apply at all, including upstate workers or other immigrants in more isolated areas who do not have transportation or ready access to the community-based organizations that have been instrumental in helping people assemble their applications. Soaring demand for the fund has placed pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul to add more money to the pot in what could be an early test of her progressive bona fides as she campaigns next year. Hochul, a Democrat, had made it a priority to fast-track the disbursement of the original $2.1 billion when she ascended to the state’s top job after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August. The fund, which awards grants of up to $15,600, was one of the most contentious points of debate during negotiations over the state budget and had faced some resistance from Cuomo, who said he was concerned about the risk of fraud. Also read | A COVID-19 relief fund was only for black residents. Then came the lawsuits Republicans, who are in the minority in the Legislature, have pushed back on the idea of diverting additional taxpayer dollars to the fund. “It’s not surprising that there’s no amount of money that will ever be enough for these advocates,” said Sen. Rob Ortt, the Republican minority leader in the state Senate. “They want to make this a permanent thing.” To date, the state has distributed just over two-thirds of the fund to about 128,000 people, a fraction of the nearly 351,000 claims that were received. Hochul said last week that “$2.1 billion was an extraordinary amount of money, and we don’t have that level of money available just to deploy for something like this.” She added that her administration was instead looking at “short-term” solutions while suggesting that the discussion of additional money might be taken up again early next year when the state Legislature returns to session to pass the next budget. It is unclear how much support expanding the fund has in the Legislature. While a group of 15 lawmakers, including Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat who sponsored the legislation that created the fund, sent a letter this month to Hochul asking for additional money, Democratic leaders have stayed quiet. Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the majority leader in the Senate, declined to comment, while Carl E. Heastie, the speaker of the Assembly, did not reply to requests for comment. Also read | Democrats move to avert shutdown, but divisions imperil Biden's agenda At dozens of community organizations, employees helped workers pull together the materials required to apply as more and more people arrived in September, inspired by the stories of friends and neighbours who had received payment, said Angel Reyes, the Long Island regional coordinator for the Rural and Migrant Ministry. Reyes said he and his colleagues knew of many more people in the area who were not coming in, whether because of fear their information would be shared with authorities or a lack of transportation options. On Eastern Long Island, home to large numbers of Latin American immigrants who work in landscaping, farming and nurseries, “public transit is virtually nonexistent,” said Reyes, a situation also common in the Hudson Valley and farther upstate. Many workers work long hours, some of them seven days a week, he added, creating another obstacle. Abraham de la Cruz, 43, who lives in Hudson, New York, lost most of his restaurant and construction work when the pandemic hit and got by on about $100 a week, he said. He moved in with a relative, sleeping on her couch. De la Cruz, who attended school only through the second grade in Oaxaca, Mexico, said he did not know about the fund until it was too late to apply, in part because he cannot speak English or read very well. Last week, a friend told him about it. “I still don’t have stable work,” he said in Spanish. “She asked me how I was doing, and I said, ‘The truth is, not so great.” Even in New York City, many eligible applicants faced administrative hurdles that they said they did not have time to resolve before the application period ended. Applicants had to submit proof of identity, residency and income history, such as letters from employers. Many cash earners faced reluctance from employers, who did not want to disclose that they had been paying workers under the table. Others had difficulty providing proof of residency because they live in illegally subdivided apartments or basements or their names are not on a lease.

A $2.1 billion pandemic lifeline for undocumented workers runs out

Fall was meant to mark the beginning of the end of the labour shortage that has held back the nation’s economic recovery. Expanded unemployment benefits were ending. Schools were reopening, freeing up many caregivers. Surely, economists and business owners reasoned, a flood of workers would follow.

Instead, the labour force shrank in September. There are 5 million fewer people working than before the pandemic began and 3 million fewer even looking for work.

The slow return of workers is causing headaches for the Biden administration, which was counting on a strong economic rebound to give momentum to its political agenda. Forecasters were largely blindsided by the problem and do not know how long it will last.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/silent-crisis-looms-as-us-to-end-covid-aid-for-millions-of-jobless-410825">'Silent crisis' looms as US to end Covid aid for millions of jobless</a>

Conservatives have blamed generous unemployment benefits for keeping people at home, but evidence from states that ended the payments early suggests that any impact was small. Progressives say companies could find workers if they paid more, but the shortages are not limited to low-wage industries.

Instead, economists point to a complex, overlapping web of factors, many of which could be slow to reverse.

The health crisis is still making it hard or dangerous for some people to work, while savings built up during the pandemic have made it easier for others to turn down jobs they do not want. Psychology may also play a role: Surveys suggest that the pandemic led many to rethink their priorities, while the glut of open jobs — more than 10 million in August — may be motivating some to hold out for a better offer.

The net result is that, arguably for the first time in decades, workers up and down the income ladder have leverage. And they are using it to demand not just higher pay but also flexible hours, more generous benefits and better working conditions. A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August, in some cases midshift to take a better-paying position down the street.

“It’s like the whole country is in some kind of union renegotiation,” said Betsey Stevenson, a University of Michigan economist who was an adviser to President Barack Obama. “I don’t know who’s going to win in this bargaining that’s going on right now, but right now it seems like workers have the upper hand.”

Rachel Eager spent last fall at home, taking the last class for her bachelor’s degree over Zoom while waiting to be recalled to her job at a New York City after-school program. That call never came.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-21-billion-pandemic-lifeline-for-undocumented-workers-runs-out-422140" hreflang="en">A $2.1 billion pandemic lifeline for undocumented workers runs out</a>

So Eager, 25, is looking for work. She has applied for dozens of jobs and had a handful of interviews, so far without luck. But she is taking her time. Eager said she is still worried about catching <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>; she would prefer to work remotely, and if she does end up taking an in-person job, she wants it to be worth the risk. And she does not want another job with low pay, little flexibility and no benefits.

“Many, many people are realizing that the way things were pre-pandemic were not sustainable and not benefiting them,” she said.

She has been applying for jobs in data analysis, nonprofit management and other fields that would offer better pay, benefits and a sense of purpose.

Eager, who is vaccinated, said that she had always been careful with money and that she built savings this year by staying home and socking away unemployment benefits and other aid.

“My financial situation is OK, and I think that is 99% of the reason that I can be choosy about my job prospects,” she said.

Americans have saved trillions of dollars since the pandemic began. Much of that wealth is concentrated among high earners, who mostly kept their jobs, reduced spending on dining and vacations, and benefited from a soaring stock market. But many lower-income Americans, too, were able to set aside money thanks to the government’s multitrillion-dollar response to the pandemic, which included not only direct cash assistance but also increased food aid, forbearance on mortgages and student loans, and an eviction moratorium.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-unemployment-claims-at-lowest-level-since-pandemic-began-373396">US unemployment claims at lowest level since pandemic began</a>

Economists said the extra savings alone are not necessarily keeping people out of the labor force. But the cushion is letting people be more picky about the jobs they take, when many have good reasons to be picky.

In addition to health concerns, child care issues remain a factor. Most schools have resumed in-person classes, but parents in many districts have had to grapple with quarantines or temporary returns to remote learning. And many parents of younger children are struggling to find day care, in part because that industry is dealing with its own staffing crisis.

Liz Kelly-Campanale left her job as a winemaker last year to care for her two children in Portland, Oregon. She thought about going back to work when schools resumed in-person instruction this fall. But the delta variant upended those plans.

“If you have an exposure, all of a sudden your kids are out of school for 10 days,” she said. “For people who have jobs where they can work from home, it’s maybe a little more feasible, but I can’t really drive a forklift around the house.”

Economists worry that if the pandemic leads many people to opt out of the workforce, it could have long-term consequences for economic growth. Rising labor force participation, particularly among women, was a major driver of the strong gains in income and production after World War II. Many economists argue that the reversal of that trend in recent decades has hurt economic growth.

In the shorter term, many economists think that more people will return to work as pandemic-related issues recede and as people deplete their savings.

“Eventually those savings, especially for lower-income people, they’re going to run out,” said Pablo Villanueva, an economist at UBS. “A lot of people are going to be increasingly unable to stay out of work even if they have some fear of COVID.”

Some businesses seem determined to wait them out. Wages have risen, but many employers appear reluctant to make other changes to attract workers, like flexible schedules and better benefits. That may be partly because, for all their complaints about a labor shortage, many companies are finding that they can get by with fewer workers, in some instances by asking customers to accept long waits or reduced service.

“They’re making a lot of profits in part because they’re saving on labor costs, and the question is, how long can that go on?” said Julia Pollak, chief economist for the employment site ZipRecruiter.

Eventually, she said, customers may get tired of busing their own tables or sitting on hold for hours, and employers may be forced to give in to workers’ demands.

Fall was meant to mark the beginning of the end of the labour shortage that has held back the nation’s economic recovery. Expanded unemployment benefits were ending.

Fall was meant to mark the beginning of the end of the labour shortage that has held back the nation’s economic recovery. Expanded unemployment benefits were ending. Schools were reopening, freeing up many caregivers. Surely, economists and business owners reasoned, a flood of workers would follow. Instead, the labour force shrank in September. There are 5 million fewer people working than before the pandemic began and 3 million fewer even looking for work. The slow return of workers is causing headaches for the Biden administration, which was counting on a strong economic rebound to give momentum to its political agenda. Forecasters were largely blindsided by the problem and do not know how long it will last. Also read | 'Silent crisis' looms as US to end Covid aid for millions of jobless Conservatives have blamed generous unemployment benefits for keeping people at home, but evidence from states that ended the payments early suggests that any impact was small. Progressives say companies could find workers if they paid more, but the shortages are not limited to low-wage industries. Instead, economists point to a complex, overlapping web of factors, many of which could be slow to reverse. The health crisis is still making it hard or dangerous for some people to work, while savings built up during the pandemic have made it easier for others to turn down jobs they do not want. Psychology may also play a role: Surveys suggest that the pandemic led many to rethink their priorities, while the glut of open jobs — more than 10 million in August — may be motivating some to hold out for a better offer. The net result is that, arguably for the first time in decades, workers up and down the income ladder have leverage. And they are using it to demand not just higher pay but also flexible hours, more generous benefits and better working conditions. A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August, in some cases midshift to take a better-paying position down the street. “It’s like the whole country is in some kind of union renegotiation,” said Betsey Stevenson, a University of Michigan economist who was an adviser to President Barack Obama. “I don’t know who’s going to win in this bargaining that’s going on right now, but right now it seems like workers have the upper hand.” Rachel Eager spent last fall at home, taking the last class for her bachelor’s degree over Zoom while waiting to be recalled to her job at a New York City after-school program. That call never came. Also read | A $2.1 billion pandemic lifeline for undocumented workers runs out So Eager, 25, is looking for work. She has applied for dozens of jobs and had a handful of interviews, so far without luck. But she is taking her time. Eager said she is still worried about catching COVID-19; she would prefer to work remotely, and if she does end up taking an in-person job, she wants it to be worth the risk. And she does not want another job with low pay, little flexibility and no benefits. “Many, many people are realizing that the way things were pre-pandemic were not sustainable and not benefiting them,” she said. She has been applying for jobs in data analysis, nonprofit management and other fields that would offer better pay, benefits and a sense of purpose. Eager, who is vaccinated, said that she had always been careful with money and that she built savings this year by staying home and socking away unemployment benefits and other aid. “My financial situation is OK, and I think that is 99% of the reason that I can be choosy about my job prospects,” she said. Americans have saved trillions of dollars since the pandemic began. Much of that wealth is concentrated among high earners, who mostly kept their jobs, reduced spending on dining and vacations, and benefited from a soaring stock market. But many lower-income Americans, too, were able to set aside money thanks to the government’s multitrillion-dollar response to the pandemic, which included not only direct cash assistance but also increased food aid, forbearance on mortgages and student loans, and an eviction moratorium. Also read | US unemployment claims at lowest level since pandemic began Economists said the extra savings alone are not necessarily keeping people out of the labor force. But the cushion is letting people be more picky about the jobs they take, when many have good reasons to be picky. In addition to health concerns, child care issues remain a factor. Most schools have resumed in-person classes, but parents in many districts have had to grapple with quarantines or temporary returns to remote learning. And many parents of younger children are struggling to find day care, in part because that industry is dealing with its own staffing crisis. Liz Kelly-Campanale left her job as a winemaker last year to care for her two children in Portland, Oregon. She thought about going back to work when schools resumed in-person instruction this fall. But the delta variant upended those plans. “If you have an exposure, all of a sudden your kids are out of school for 10 days,” she said. “For people who have jobs where they can work from home, it’s maybe a little more feasible, but I can’t really drive a forklift around the house.” Economists worry that if the pandemic leads many people to opt out of the workforce, it could have long-term consequences for economic growth. Rising labor force participation, particularly among women, was a major driver of the strong gains in income and production after World War II. Many economists argue that the reversal of that trend in recent decades has hurt economic growth. In the shorter term, many economists think that more people will return to work as pandemic-related issues recede and as people deplete their savings. “Eventually those savings, especially for lower-income people, they’re going to run out,” said Pablo Villanueva, an economist at UBS. “A lot of people are going to be increasingly unable to stay out of work even if they have some fear of COVID.” Some businesses seem determined to wait them out. Wages have risen, but many employers appear reluctant to make other changes to attract workers, like flexible schedules and better benefits. That may be partly because, for all their complaints about a labor shortage, many companies are finding that they can get by with fewer workers, in some instances by asking customers to accept long waits or reduced service. “They’re making a lot of profits in part because they’re saving on labor costs, and the question is, how long can that go on?” said Julia Pollak, chief economist for the employment site ZipRecruiter. Eventually, she said, customers may get tired of busing their own tables or sitting on hold for hours, and employers may be forced to give in to workers’ demands.

The economic rebound is still waiting for workers

Millions of Americans who have been thrown out of work during the coronavirus pandemic have been unable to register for unemployment benefits since the US economy entered a free fall, according to a poll released on Tuesday.

Millions of Americans who have been thrown out of work during the coronavirus pandemic have been unable to register for unemployment benefits since the US economy entered a free fall, according to a poll released on Tuesday. The left-leaning Economic Policy Institute found in an online poll that for every 10 people who have successfully filed unemployment claims, three or four people have been unable to register and another two people have not tried to apply at a time of acute economic crisis. Official US statistics show that 26.5 million people have applied for unemployment benefits since mid-March, wiping out all of the jobs gained during the longest employment boom in US history. EPI's survey indicates that an additional 8.9 million to 13.9 million people have been shut out of the system, said Ben Zipperer, the study's lead author. "This study validates the anecdotes and news reports we're seeing about people having trouble filing for benefits they need and deserve," Zipperer said. Idled workers say they have encountered downed websites and clogged phone lines, as the state governments that administer the program have been overwhelmed by applicants. "It's a shame how you work for so many years and then when you need it, you can't get it," said Jim Hewes, 48, who said he was unable to file a claim online for more than two weeks after he was furloughed from his job at an Orlando, Florida, second-hand store in March. Hewes said he mailed off a paper application on April 9 but had not heard back from the state. "It's almost set up to fail. It was made complicated so people would get discouraged and give up," he said. EPI surveyed 24,607 U.S. adult internet users using Google Surveys between April 13 and April 24. The poll has a confidence interval, an indicator of accuracy, of plus or minus 1%. Some 9.4% of poll respondents said they had successfully applied for unemployment benefits, while 3.4% said they tried but could not get through. A further 1.9% said they did not apply because the process was too difficult. Still no payments for many States like New Jersey and Georgia have struggled to find staffers who know how to update computer systems that run on decades-old technology. Others that have moved to newer technology have also encountered technical woes. States have also had to incorporate enhanced federal benefits that provide an extra $600 per week and extend coverage to Uber drivers and other independent contractors. On top of that, many states entered the crisis with fewer workers to handle unemployment claims as an improving economy had allowed them to cut staff. States had the equivalent of 26,360 full-time workers in their unemployment offices in the 2018 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Labor Department, down 30% from staffing levels during the peak of the Great Recession in 2009 and 2010. Many Americans who managed to file claims have yet to receive payments weeks after they lost their jobs. Labor Department statistics show that 71% who apply are getting payments, although that figure varies significantly by state. Florida, for example, said on Saturday it had sent payments to roughly one in five of those who had successfully submitted claims. Among those waiting are Rachel Alvarez, 44, who says she now hides snacks in her bedroom so her three children cannot eat them too quickly. The former restaurant server in Naples, Florida, says she has run through her savings since she was laid off on March 25. "I have nothing," she said. "As much as I don't want my kids to see me stress out, each one has seen me cry."

Millions of Americans locked out of unemployment system, survey finds

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