As GOP states cut jobless aid early, one mom faces tough choices: "Either way, I lose."
CBSN
Some 22 states around the country are planning to cut off enhanced jobless benefits by the end of June, arguing that the extra $300 per week in federal aid is deterring people from returning to work. But some unemployed workers say the issue isn't so simple, expressing concern about making ends meet when that assistance ends.
Among them is unemployed hotel manager Elisha Moody, 51, a single mom of three who lives in Claremont, New Hampshire. The state's governor, Chris Sununu, this month announced New Hampshire would end supplementary unemployment benefits in June — more than two months before funding expires under the federal government's American Rescue Plan. In explaining why he's pulling the plug, Sununu said local employers are "desperate" for workers and cited the state's low jobless rate, which was 2.7% in March. But unemployed people in states that are slashing aid say their problems go far beyond choosing whether to collect $300 in weekly benefits over trying to find a job. Moody, for one, is coping with the mental health needs developed by two of her children due to the isolation they experienced during the pandemic, as well as concerns about the physical health of her 81-year-old mother, who lives with them.More Related News