$300 weekly FEMA grants now being paid to eligible unemployed Idahoans

$300 weekly FEMA grants are now being distributed to eligible unemployed Idahoans.

LIFELINE FORIDAHOANS...COLLECTINGUNEMPLOYMENT...AFTER LOSING THEIRJOBS DUE TO COVID-19.THIS... AFTER THATEXTRA 600-DOLLARBOOST FROM THE"CARES ACT"EXPIRED.OUR MADELINEWHITE JOINS USFROM THE IDAHOSTATEHOUSE WITHTHE DETAILS.I SPOKE WITH THEDIRECTOR OF THEIDAHO DEPARTMENTOF LABOR..

ABOUTHOW THE PROGRAMIS PUTTING FEMAMONEY - INTO THEHANDS OF IDAHOANS.STARTING THIS WEEK- FEMA DOLLARSSHOULD BEGIN TOTRICKLE OUT"THE PAYMENTPROCESSER RANLAST NIGHT."FOR THAT NEW 300DOLLAR PER WEEKPROGRAM.

IT'S ONLYHALF AS MUCH ASTHAT PRIOR AMOUNT- BUT IT'SSOMETHING."WE SAY USUALLYIT'S ABOUT THREEDAYS BEFORESOMEONE WILLRECEIVE THEPAYMENT IN THEIRACCOUNT."WITH 45,000 PEOPLECURRENTLY SEEKINGWORK.

IDAHO'SUNEMPLOYMENTRATE IS NOW ATAROUND 5%.

BUTTHIS PROGRAM WILLONLY APPLY TOTHOSE WHO'REGETTING A WEEKLYBENEFIT AMOUNT OF100 DOLLARS ORMORE - AND WHOCAN SELF-CERTIFYTHEY'RE ONUNEMPLOYMENTBENEFITS DUE TOTHE VIRURS - WHICHREVIER ESTIMATES ISAROUND 30,000PEOPLE."IF SOMEONE HASEVER ANSWEREDYES,' THAT THEY AREUNEMPLOYED DUETO COVID-19, THENTHEY DON'T NEED TOTAKE ANY OTHERACTION.""PAYMENT WILL NOTOCCUR UNTIL THEYDO RESPOND TOTHAT QUESTION."IN FACEBOOKGROUPS ANDBEYOND.

MANYIDAHOANS HAVESPENT WEEKSWONDERING WHENTHIS HELP WOULDCOME."THE LAST FEWWEEKS WE'VE BEENWORKING ONPROGRAMMINGCHANGES SO THATWE CAN IMPLEMENTTHE PROGRAM INOUR SYSTEM."AS I TOLD YOUMONDAY.SCHEDULEDEVICTION HEARINGSIN IDAHO HAVE RISENSIGNIFICANTLY IN THEPAST FEW WEEKS -SO THIS - PROVIDESA WELCOME LIFELINEFOR THOSE WHOMIGHT BESTRUGGLING."I THINK THAT THISPROGRAM ISINTENDED TO BE ABRIDGE."BUT DON'T GET TOOCOMFORTABLE - THEEXTRA CASH -COULD BE GONEBEFORE YA KNOW IT."GOVERNOR LITTLEHAS SAID THAT HEWILL UM, HE WANTSTHE STATE TO APPLYFOR FIVE WEEKSWORTH OF MONEY."THE FIRST PAYABLEWEEK ISRETROACTIVE TOAUGUST 1ST.

BUTTHE FIRST PAYMENTCLAIMANTS WILL SEE- WILL ONLY BE FOR900 BUCKS."THIS INITIALPAYMENT'S GOING TOBE FOR THE FIRSTTHREE WEEKS OFTHE PROGRAM, UM,AND THEN WE AREGOING TO RE-EVALUATE AND MAKESURE WE STILL HAVEENOUGH MONEY ANDPAY THE FOURTHWEEK.""THERE'S A LOT OFUNCERTAINTY HOWLONG THE PROGRAMWILL ACTUALLYLAST."AND THOSE WITHPENDING ISSUESSTOPPING PAYMENT..MAY NOT GET PAID.."IF THAT ISSUE ISNOT RESOLVEDUNTIL AFTER THEPROGRAM ENDS,THEN, UM, THERE ISNO MECHANISM TOMAKE SURE THATTHEY GET THATFUNDING.:MORE DETAILS FORTHE PROGRAM - AREON LABOR DOTIDAHO DOT GOV.REVIER SAYS SHE ISIN THE PROCESS OFHIRING MOREADJUDICATORS..WHICH WILLHOPEFULLY HELP INGETTING CLAIMANTSISSUESINVESTIGATED MOREQUICKLY.IN BOISE.

MADELINEWHITE.

IDAHONEWS 6.