Governor Eric Holcomb says he’s not sure if he will accept federal unemployment dollars from the Trump Administration.
If accepted, the money would provide $400 a week in unemployment insurance benefits per eligible Hoosier.
But the state would have to pay 25 percent of the cost in order to get the federal dollars.
“We are in a concerted effort with our federal partners both the U.S. Department of Labor and FEMA practically on a daily basis, on what steps we need to take, what timing looks like and really in terms of dollars,” Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development, Fred Payne said.
Payne said the state would have to set up a new system allowing people to apply for the money before it can be distributed.
It would be similar to the same system Hoosiers used to apply for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation pay.
“So we are working not only with those federal partners, but we are working with our sister agency here, Homeland Security, to make sure we shore up any gaps before we make any decisions,” Payne said.
President Trump’s executive order partially restores the $600 pandemic unemployment pay that expired last month.
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