This US state is offering $1,500 to its citizens in a bid to restart the economy
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A US state will now pay its citizens $1,500 to bring back the workforce.
The state of Idaho is luring citizens back to work, in an additional bid to get people off the federal unemployment benefits.
The Republican led federal government is currently deciding on whether continuing support to millions of Americans, who are now unemployed because of the pandemic-induced shutdowns.
A $2 trillion coronavirus relief package was passed by US Congress in March, with additional $600 weekly boost to the people. However, these $600 payments will expire in July, as was envisioned. According to CNN, the government is now eyeing relief measures in line with promoting people to get back to work.
Americans are now receiving more money as part of the unemployment benefits than many did when they were unemployed before the coronavirus pandemic. The government fears if the benefits are not withdrawn, the economy will take even longer to recover.
In essence, people who don’t return to work will lose their unemployment benefits, including the $600 boost.
A new mechanism for eligibility will scrutinise who shall remain on the government boost and who simply won’t receive benefits from it.Keeping in mind the pandemic still hasn’t let up, people who were asked to quarantine will continue to receive the federal benefits.
As part of its reopening measures, Idaho is offering a one-time $1,500 cash payment to people, while $750 to those undertaking part-time jobs.Anybody who lost their jobs after March 1 and resume working between May 1 and July 1 will be eligible to receive the state benefits.
The state had received $1.25 billion from the federal government as coronavirus relief. $100 million from this fund will be used to lure people back to working.Being rolled out on a first-come, first-serve basis, over 70,000 people will be able to avail the benefits of this scheme. The state’s unemployment rate jumped to 11.5 per cent from 2.5 per cent in March.