On Saturday, August 8, 2020, President Trump took executive actions, sidestepping Congress, to extend certain federal pandemic economic relief. The executive actions were issued after Congressional negotiations over additional pandemic economic relief appeared to have collapsed.
One of these executive actions would address additional unemployment relief by establishing a new lost wages assistance program that would provide a $400 weekly payment to eligible claimants beginning with weeks of unemployment ending August 1, 2020. Individuals would be eligible for these $400 payments if they receive at least $100 per week in any of the following types of benefits: unemployment compensation, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Extended Benefits, Short-Time Compensation, Trade Adjustment Allowance, or Self-Employment Assistance. The $400 would reflect a $300 federal contribution.
These executive actions came approximately one week after Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits, which provided unemployed individuals with an additional $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits, expired on July 31, 2020.
The other three executive actions taken on August 8, 2020 would address deferral of payroll tax obligations, assistance to renters and homeowners, and student loan payment relief.
It is not clear what authority the President has to take these executive actions. Therefore, it is also not clear what immediate effect, if any, these executive actions will have.
Originally published 10 August, 2020
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