America’s Jobless Are About to Lose Their $600-a-Week Lifeline

In about two weeks millions of Americans could lose a crucial economic lifeline of this pandemic: $600 a week in extra federal unemployment benefits.

The scheduled end will ripple through households and the entire economy. The program accounts for a big chunk of the Treasury Department’s record jobless payments last month, which exceeded $100 billion. Without the additional cash, some of the hardest-hit households may be forced to choose which bills to pay and which to let slide.

Amanda Steinhauser

Source: Amanda Steinhauser

For Amanda Steinhauser in New Jersey, it will mean burning through meager savings even faster. For Chris Bolei in California, ...