Mass. to Provide Extra Unemployment Benefits for Early August Claims

The Berkshire Eagle reports Massachusetts residents who are unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to receive up to an additional $900 in aid thanks to a federal grant award, state officials announced Monday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a Massachusetts application for money through the Lost Wages Supplemental Payment Assistance program, funding an extra $300 weekly payment on top of existing benefits for Bay State recipients who qualified in the weeks ending Aug. 1, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15.

Both those on standard unemployment insurance and on the expanded eligibility Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program -- which covers gig workers and others who normally cannot access benefits -- will receive the additional payments if they qualified for aid in the weeks covered, according to a spokesperson for the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.