We need retroactive relief.

In our survey of 1,300 unemployed workers, we found that 44% are receiving less than ¼ of their previous income. (See Report)

• By omitting retroactivity in continued unemployment assistance, Congress is placing the financial burden of their inaction on the American people and our families.  

• The FPUC expired July 26th, leaving tens of millions of Americans surviving on just state UI or PUA payments for TWENTY THREE WEEKS. State UI and PUA are not, and were never designed to be, a livable wage in any state. UI is as little as $7/week. You can find your state’s average UI payment here.

• The FPUC has been in every bill proposal, including Senator McConnell's own bill in the Fall; it has had bipartisan support at the level of at least $300 since its expiration in July. 

• Millions of us are deep in debt because of our commitment to stopping the spread of the virus as per the government’s orders. We did our part, yet over 10 million people are behind on rent. It’s time for the government to do their part. Halved payments in 2021 will not back-pay 5+ months of rent and other accrued debts from 2020. 

• Americans are in deep financial crises. The new Congress and Biden administration must fix the error of the lack of FPUC payments from August to December. If they don’t, both personal and overall economic recoveries will suffer for years.

Why Not Just Unemployed People?

85.8% of surveyed underemployed workers are earning less than half of their previous income. (See Report)

• Direct aid has been needed throughout the pandemic. 76 million people in the US were unemployed and only about 24 million of those people received unemployment. These workers received NO assistance since the $1,200 check over 6 months ago.

• Tens of millions of Americans have been severely underemployed throughout this crisis. These are our essential workers who are putting their lives at risk and other workers facing significant cuts to hours and pay. These people are not eligible for unemployment, and direct aid is necessary to keep them and their families in their homes and able to afford even basic necessities.

• Some who have been unemployed have been forced back into the workforce in unsafe positions, settling for underemployment to close the gaps left by the lapse of FPUC and unlivable unemployment. 32% of our worker-respondents said they are currently underemployed. 85.8% of those people are earning less than half of their previous income. 53.9% of them are earning less than a quarter of their previous income. We need direct aid payments to these underemployed workers so they can pull their way out of the debt accrued over those 6 months while still paying for their current needs. Direct aid is needed in addition to extended and retroactive FPUC.

We need continued relief until the pandemic is over and the workforce has recovered.

• The pandemic is not over. Cases are rising and hospitalizations are higher than they were when the CARES Act passed.

• We have only recovered about half of the 22 millions jobs we lost since the crisis began. Moreover, the rate of job recovery has consistently slowed over the last months. In December it halted and actually started to move backwards.

• Many face to face industries have no timeline for returning to work.

• "Improved" unemployment rates don’t include millions of workers. More on this here. 

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Relief must include healthcare assistance.

57% of respondents fear healthcare loss without continued FPUC and PUA. (See Report)

• The second highest reported cost after rent and mortgages was healthcare. 57% of respondents fear healthcare loss without continued FPUC and PUA. Amid a continually escalating pandemic, in one of the richest nations on earth, workers should not be forced to weigh ending their healthcare coverage to cover other emergency living expenses.

Relief must include rent and mortgage protections.

75% of those surveyed (including the founders of ExtendPUA.org) are in need of rent or mortgage assistance. (See Report)

• No one should lose their home during a global pandemic, and no landlord should be without the necessary income to remain financially stable for the properties they maintain. Additionally, expecting individuals to accumulate so much wealth post pandemic that they can make up for a year of $0 income is unreasonable.

Relief must include food assistance.

1 in 4 Americans are now food insecure. (See Report)

• Food banks across the country are witnessing record breaking lines. Many food assistance programs are covered by "state and local government" funding, which is why we have been so adamant that a comprehensive relief bill must include this line item. Since this critical element has inexplicably become a polarizing topic thanks to a few rogue tweets, we are being as clear as we can in demanding that no one should go hungry during a global pandemic.

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Relief must include direct cash payments

85.8% of underemployed workers are earning less than 50% of their previous income. (See Report)

• Following our call for retroactivity for those who are underemployed or unemployed and not receiving relief... we also need continued relief for these people. We need cash payments to those who are not eligible for unemployment - including those who are underemployed, essential workers who have gone without hazard pay, and anyone excluded from unemployment altogether. Everyone in America should receive assistance.