ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland on Thursday was approved for the federal Lost Wages Assistance grant, which could pay unemployed citizens an additional $300 per week in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
FEMA approved the extra $431 million in funding just over 24 hours after Governor Larry Hogan announced that the state had applied.
Funds are likely be distributed by late September, retroactive to the week ending August 1.
To be eligible, you have to qualify for at least $100 in weekly benefits and self-certify that COVID-19 has resulted in partial or full-time unemployment.
READ MORE: State program helps businesses avoid layoffs, workers from losing hours and pay
That means eligible applicants would be paid a total of $400 per week.
The program is slated to last until late December, but could change if funding runs out or new emergency legislation is passed.
"The $100 threshold is based on the claimant's monetary eligibility, including any dependents' allowance. It is calculated without regard to any tax withholding, offsets, or wage deductions," she wrote in an email to WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii.
You will not have to file a new application if you qualify to receive the extra benefits.
Under President Donald Trump's new executive order, FEMA will fund the $300 weekly benefit with Maryland matching 25% using
regular unemployment funds already distributed through the CARES ACT and other resources.
“Maryland is doing much better on our health metrics than most of the rest of the country, we are doing much better on our economic recovery than most of the rest of the country, and we want to do whatever it takes to keep it that way,” said Governor Hogan. “But far too many Marylanders are still struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. With this critical funding, we can help those struggling Marylanders weather this storm, get back on their feet, and recover.”
SEE ALSO: Maryland extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks
Over 1.1 million initial unemployment claims have been filed in the state since March 21, as opposed to just 446,883 in 2018 and 2019 combined.
The Labor Department reports over 96 percent of those claims have been processed, equaling nearly $6 billion in payouts.
Maryland’s current unemployment rate stands at 8 percent, nearly 28 percent lower than the national average. Maryland gained 96,700 jobs in May and June alone.
