Exemption Bill: This is what happens if Trump doesn’t sign the $ 900 billion Covid package

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The legislation would extend two pandemic unemployment programs and give the unemployed a $ 300 weekly federal boost through mid-March. It would send instant payments of up to $ 600 per person. It would reopen the Paycheck Protection Program, allowing some of the hardest hit small businesses to apply for a second loan.
The package, which would be the second largest emergency relief deal after the $ 2 trillion CARES bill passed by Congress in March, would also expand protection against eviction and enhance the benefits of food stamps.
More than 12 million fired Americans could lose their unemployment benefits after this weekend if Trump doesn’t sign the bill. And even if he does, they will likely get a few weeks’ interruption in payments.

As part of the historic broadening of unemployment benefits under the CARES Act, lawmakers have established three programs to help unemployed Americans. While the $ 600 payment improvement lasted only through July, the other two expire just after Christmas.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program allows independent contractors, self-employed workers and handymen to qualify for payments. It also opens up the program to those unable to work because of the pandemic, even if they or family members are sick or quarantined or if their children’s schools are closed.

According to the latest data from the Department of Labor, approximately 9.3 million people filed claims under this program in early December.

Also, Congress set up the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, which provides 13 weeks of additional federally paid benefits to those who run out of state payments, typically lasting 26 weeks. Earlier this month, nearly 4.8 million long-term unemployed workers were on this program, according to the Labor Department.

If these two major programs were to lapse, payments would end for more than 12 million Americans, according to an analysis by The Century Foundation.

But even if Trump signs the legislation, it would still take a few more weeks for the state’s unemployment agencies to reprogram their computers to continue these two programs and add the new $ 300 weekly federal boost, Michele Evermore said. senior policy analyst for National Employment Law. Project. They should first be guided by the Ministry of Labor with the new rules.

While the benefits would be retroactive, the unemployed would be left without any pay until their country is ready.

Protection against eviction

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention injunction that went into effect in September temporarily halted evictions until the end of the year. The injunction, spurred by an executive order Trump signed in the summer, applies to tenants who meet certain income requirements, have suffered significant income losses, and have gone out of their way to find rental assistance and pay their rent.
Since the order does not cancel or block the rent, a tenant’s entire overdue rent is due on January 1 when the moratorium expires. Many struggling tenants will be evicted without rent compensation or an extension of protection.
Maricopa County agent Darlene Martinez files an eviction notice on Oct. 1 for non-payment of rent in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by John Moore / Getty Images)

According to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, an estimated 9.2 million tenants who lost income from work during the pandemic are behind on rent, or 23% of such tenants.

The aid package would extend eviction protection until January 31 and provide $ 25 billion in rental aid to those who lost their sources of income during the pandemic.

Coronavirus relief funds for states

Congress provided $ 150 billion to state and local governments to help them cover the costs of the coronavirus. But states must use those funds by December 30.

According to a National Governors Association survey of 42 states and territories, states are on track to spend all funds before the deadline. Most of the money has been used for health-related expenses, emergency economic aid, education and childcare, and government expenditures.

The package would give states and places an extra year to spend the money.

CNN’s Katie Lobosco contributed to this story.

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