Kansas will begin processing extra $300 unemployment payments Friday

Sep. 30--TOPEKA -- Kansans who are eligible for an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits can apply for the assistance beginning Friday, when the state will start processing the additional payments.

Unemployed workers can receive the benefits on top of their regular unemployment due to the federal Lost Wages Assistance program, which was authorized by President Donald Trump in early August after an additional $600 in federal unemployment from the CARES Act expired.

In order to be eligible, applicants must certify that their unemployment or partial unemployment is due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefits will be retroactive and will take effect in the week ending Aug. 1. The funds will be available through the week ending Sept. 5.

Those who believe they are eligible for the program can self-certify by logging into their account at www.getkansasbenefits.gov or by calling one of the unemployment contact center phone numbers listed on the bottom of the webpage.

If the Kansas Department of Labor confirms someone is eligible, they will receive the additional payments for each week of the LWA program, as long as the person remains eligible and funds are still available.

In August, Trump issued an executive memorandum authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to spend $44 billion from its Disaster Relief Fund in extra unemployment benefits across the country. The plan was to offer an extra $400 per week, with $100 coming from states and $300 from the federal government.

Kansas would have used federal virus aid it had already received to cover its share. However, members of the State Finance Council, chaired by the Democratic governor but dominated by GOP legislators, voted down the proposal.

The cost to the state was estimated to be $63 million. Lawmakers at the time said the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Gov. Laura Kelly moved ahead to apply for the assistance at $300 per week for Kansans. FEMA later approved $116 million for the program to boost Kansans who are unemployed in relation to COVID-19.

"Short term, the Lost Wages Assistance program will help provide critical support to unemployed Kansans due to the coronavirus pandemic," Governor L aura Kelly said in a statement. "I urge the Senate to pass legislation to extend federal benefits to those still in need."

Since March 15, KDOL has paid out over 2.5 million weekly claims totaling over $2 billion between regular unemployment and the federal pandemic programs, according to the governor's office.

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