In Kansas, unemployed workers may soon be eligible for $400 in extra weekly benefits

Kansas may soon join Missouri and roughly 30 other states in again providing expanded unemployment benefits to blunt the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that Kansas will ask to participate in a federal program, Lost Wages Assistance, that will provide people out of work with an extra $400 a week. An earlier initiative that provided $600 a week expired in July.

President Donald Trump launched the program earlier this month, but it was unclear whether Kansas would participate after state officials raised questions about its legality. The federal government will provide $300 per person per week, while Kansas will fund $100 of the amount, Kelly spokesman Sam Coleman said.

Coleman said the state portion will be funded through federal coronavirus relief dollars Kansas has already received.

Kelly’s application comes with important caveats. If Kansas is approved, the extra aid would be available only to those who already receive at least $100 in unemployment benefits. Those who claim the extra $400 must also self-certify that their loss of work is due to disruptions from COVID-19.

The governor’s office cautioned that implementing the program would take several weeks and recipients shouldn’t expect extra aid any sooner than late September. Kansas, like many states, has antiquated unemployment computer systems. Reprogramming is often an arduous process.

For those eligible, payments would be retroactive to Aug. 1, however, and remain in effect until the federal government ends the program.

Kelly, a Democrat, said she had hoped the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate would return early from its August recess to extend federal benefits. But, she said, “I could not sit by idly while many Kansans are still facing unemployment.”

“This is far from a perfect solution, but we want to use every tool available to protect Kansans and our economy,” Kelly said in a statement.

The Lost Wages Assistance Program is the “only available option for additional federal assistance at the time,” Kelly said.

More than 88,000 Kansans filed new or continuing unemployment claims last week. In July, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.2 percent – a drop from 7.5 percent in June, but still well above pre-pandemic levels.

Acting Secretary of Labor Ryan Wright said Lost Wages Assistance is “not a permanent solution” but instead a quick fix. Ultimately, Congress needs to act, he said.

“During these difficult economic times, we need Congress to fund permanent unemployment solutions for families in need,” Wright said in a statement.

Congress remains gridlocked over another round of coronavirus relief. Republican and Democratic leaders remain at an impasse and some Republicans are resisting any further large aid packages. Congress has already approved more than $3 trillion since the pandemic began.

Missouri’s labor department announced earlier this week it would begin providing an additional $300 as early as this week. Missouri’s program will be retroactive to the last week of July, the agency said.

The additional federal aid could last until the close of the year, but could also be ended or modified if Congress passes a new plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set aside up to $44 billion to fund the extra aid. So far about 30 states have applied to participate.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 12:31 PM.