New Hampshire is ending its participation in the federal pandemic unemployment program that gave unemployed workers an extra $300 each week and introducing a bonus for people who return to work.Gov. Chris Sununu said the additional federal benefit will end June 19. There’s a 30-day notice requirement, and Sununu said he contacted the Department of Labor on Tuesday morning to say that New Hampshire would leave the program.>> How and where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in New HampshireSununu said the state’s unemployment has nearly fallen to what it was before the pandemic forced many businesses to close or reduce operations. He said more jobs are available in New Hampshire than ever before, but 15,000 fewer people are employed than before the pandemic started.>> Latest COVID-19 impact coverage from WMURThe governor announced a new $10 million program that will provide a bonus to currently unemployed people who return to work for at least eight consecutive weeks. Part-time employees will be eligible for a $500 bonus, and full-time employees can apply for a $1,000 bonus.The program begins immediately, with the first workers able to apply for the bonus in eight weeks. It will only be available to those who make $25 an hour or less.>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: Important information”The process is actually fairly simple,” Sununu said. “That we’re committing $10 million to the bonuses, and eight weeks from today, the application process will begin, so you have to show that you’ve worked for those eight consecutive weeks. Then, the application process will begin, so it’s kind of a first-come, first-served.”Sununu said a lot of companies are trying to find workers, and wages are high, in some cases starting at $15 to $20 per hour. He said job fairs are being held, and there is a lot of need for seasonal workers and health care workers.”Every employer I talk to is looking for workers,” Sununu said. “They’re desperate for not just the $300 to go away, which it will as soon as it can on June 19, but also now, we’re kind of reversing course a little bit in a positive way and adding a stipend — an incentive — to get folks back to work.”Sununu noted that while special pandemic programs are winding down, normal unemployment benefits aren’t going anywhere.Christine and Jonathan McIntyre of Nashua will both be impacted by the change. “We were the first, like Mar. 15, laid off. The industry just shut and it still is to this day,” said Christine McIntyre.Both are newborn photographers that lost their full-time jobs at hospitals. They said Jonathan’s benefits have been tied up in Massachusetts. Christine said she is receiving $168 a week from the state, plus the federal $300 boost. Neither want to apply for temporary jobs outside of their field.”It’s probably not fair to the employer too, like ‘Hi, I can work here one to three months,'” Christine said. ** Town-by-town COVID-19 case data **–
New Hampshire is ending its participation in the federal pandemic unemployment program that gave unemployed workers an extra $300 each week and introducing a bonus for people who return to work.
Gov. Chris Sununu said the additional federal benefit will end June 19. There’s a 30-day notice requirement, and Sununu said he contacted the Department of Labor on Tuesday morning to say that New Hampshire would leave the program.
>> How and where to get the COVID-19 vaccine in New Hampshire
Sununu said the state’s unemployment has nearly fallen to what it was before the pandemic forced many businesses to close or reduce operations. He said more jobs are available in New Hampshire than ever before, but 15,000 fewer people are employed than before the pandemic started.
>> Latest COVID-19 impact coverage from WMUR
The governor announced a new $10 million program that will provide a bonus to currently unemployed people who return to work for at least eight consecutive weeks. Part-time employees will be eligible for a $500 bonus, and full-time employees can apply for a $1,000 bonus.
The program begins immediately, with the first workers able to apply for the bonus in eight weeks. It will only be available to those who make $25 an hour or less.
>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: Important information
“The process is actually fairly simple,” Sununu said. “That we’re committing $10 million to the bonuses, and eight weeks from today, the application process will begin, so you have to show that you’ve worked for those eight consecutive weeks. Then, the application process will begin, so it’s kind of a first-come, first-served.”
Sununu said a lot of companies are trying to find workers, and wages are high, in some cases starting at $15 to $20 per hour. He said job fairs are being held, and there is a lot of need for seasonal workers and health care workers.
“Every employer I talk to is looking for workers,” Sununu said. “They’re desperate for not just the $300 to go away, which it will as soon as it can on June 19, but also now, we’re kind of reversing course a little bit in a positive way and adding a stipend — an incentive — to get folks back to work.”
Sununu noted that while special pandemic programs are winding down, normal unemployment benefits aren’t going anywhere.
Christine and Jonathan McIntyre of Nashua will both be impacted by the change.
“We were the first, like Mar. 15, laid off. The industry just shut and it still is to this day,” said Christine McIntyre.
Both are newborn photographers that lost their full-time jobs at hospitals. They said Jonathan’s benefits have been tied up in Massachusetts. Christine said she is receiving $168 a week from the state, plus the federal $300 boost.
Neither want to apply for temporary jobs outside of their field.
“It’s probably not fair to the employer too, like ‘Hi, I can work here one to three months,'” Christine said.
** Town-by-town COVID-19 case data **
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Read More:NH to end federal pandemic unemployment benefit, offers bonus to those who return to work
2021-05-19 02:36:00