FEMA ADVISORY
FEMA Authorized to Use Disaster Funds to
Supplement Unemployment Benefits
To help ease the financial burden on those who are unemployed because of
the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, President Trump authorized FEMA to use
Stafford Act disaster relief funds to provide supplemental payments for lost
wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Up to $44 billion in Disaster Relief
Funding is available to support this initiative.
FEMA will
provide funding to states and territories that request and apply for
assistance. Unemployed Americans who have lost wages because of COVID-19 may be
eligible for assistance.
On March
13, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency concerning the novel
coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Since then, all 50 states, five territories,
the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the District of Columbia were approved for
major disaster declarations to assist with additional needs. The new funding
for lost wages is in addition to the $8.8 billion FEMA has already obligated in
support of COVID-19 efforts.
FEMA is
working closely with the White House and other federal agency partners to
develop guidance on the process for states and territories to easily request
and receive funds. States and territories may provide eligible individuals $400
per week, with a $300 federal contribution. The states and territories will
administer the program and distribute the funds through their regular
unemployment insurance system, as a supplemental payment.
This
program will be applied retroactively to the week ending August 1 and continues
through no later than December 6, 2020, or until the balance of the Disaster
Relief Fund reaches $25 billion, or Congress enacts a replacement unemployment
relief program.
Individuals
who currently receive at least $100 per week of unemployment compensation
benefits, and provide self-certification that they are unemployed, or are
unable or unavailable to work due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 are
eligible for the supplement through their state or territory unemployment
office.
Contact Us
If you have any
questions regarding this FEMA Advisory, please contact FEMA Office of External
Affairs, Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Division:
·
Congressional
Affairs at (202) 646-4500 or at FEMA-Congressional-Affairs@fema.dhs.gov
·
Intergovernmental
Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-IGA@fema.dhs.gov
·
Tribal
Affairs at (202) 646-3444 or at FEMA-Tribal@fema.dhs.gov
·
Private
Sector Engagement at (202) 646-3444 or at nbeoc@max.gov
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Also, follow Administrator Pete Gaynor on Twitter @FEMA_Pete.
FEMA Mission
To help people before,
during, and after disasters.
