Pandemic unemployment benefits end for 7.5 million this Labor Day

Californians make up 27%, Arizonans about 1%

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KYMA, KECY) - According to a progressive, independent think tank which conducts research, develops solutions and drives policy change known as The Century Foundation, about 7.5 million workers will have their government aid slashed Monday, Labor Day.

The Foundation split the work groups losing benefits into two categories:

• 4.2 million workers on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
• 3.3 million workers on the Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

PUA guidelines allowed workers whom are traditionally ineligible to qualify, while the PEUC granted additional weeks of benefits to those whom are still jobless when their state benefits run out.

A third program, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), also provided $600 per week at first, and later $300 per week, to make up for some states' limited benefits.

Known more commonly as the "COVID-19 Stimulus Package," the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 raised the lifespan of the PUA, PEUC and FPUC benefits. However, the time has finally run out.

The Century Foundation reports as of Labor Day, over 2 million California workers will have their pandemic unemployment benefits cut off; whereas nearly 73,000 Arizonans will lose theirs.