Rick Sobey: Massachusetts unemployment checks to get $300 boost from feds amid coronavirus crisis

Aug. 24--Massachusetts unemployment checks will soon get $300 fatter thanks to a federal grant amid the coronavirus crisis, according to the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development on Monday.

The Bay State -- with the country's highest unemployment rate -- has been approved for the Lost Wages Assistance Grant. This will result in Massachusetts receiving three weeks of Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to pay an extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits.

Recently, the extra $600 in federal weekly unemployment benefits expired.

Then President Trump signed an executive order to extend additional benefits of $300 or $400 per week -- depending on which plan governors choose -- to the unemployed.

Gov. Charlie Baker last week signaled the state would apply to receive funds under the new program.

The state's application was submitted late last week by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Department of Unemployment Assistance.

"Per FEMA's authorization, the grant will fund an additional $300 weekly payment to those who are eligible for the three weeks ending 8/1/20, 8/8/20, and 8/15/20," the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said in a statement. "The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance has already begun work on the technology requirements necessary for this program and anticipates being able to quickly deliver retroactive funds to eligible claimants in the coming weeks."

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