Deeply divided over how much support to continue providing the roughly 28 million unemployed Americans amid the fragile economic recovery, Congress left Washington this month without any agreement. Democrats want to continue the $600 boost until early next year, while Republicans proposed cutting the enhancement to $200 for at least two months and then to 70% of the jobless person’s former wage.
This week, Senate Republicans drafted a scaled-back measure that would provide a $300 weekly supplement, and pressure is building on Democrats to accept a more limited proposal. Millions of laid-off Americans are now trying to pay for housing, put food on the table and pay other expenses only on state unemployment benefits — a weekly cut of at least half in every state.