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'We are not out of the crisis and yet here we are' | Labor Day brings expiration of expanded unemployment benefits

Monday marked the expiration of expanded unemployment benefits tied to the pandemic, including a $300-a-week boost in unemployment checks.

WASHINGTON — Expanded federal unemployment benefits that helped many who lost jobs during the pandemic expired on Labor Day and stopped assistance to around 7.5 million people around the country.

The benefits included a $300-per-week boost to unemployment checks.

In total, the Virginia Employment Commission said $14 billion in benefits were issued across the state as part of the expanded programs.

For Margaret Holmes, who worked full time as a tape transcriber in D.C. before the pandemic, the benefits allowed her to go back to school and learn new skills to become re-certified as a teacher.

"It’s not easy to take a 20 to 30-year business or career, throw it away, and at age 50 start all over again," she said. "Now that [expanded unemployment benefits] are totally cut off, for this semester I have to find the money elsewhere.”

After business dried up in March last year, Holmes told WUSA9 that she has tried to get another full-time job for months.

However, she said she and others have run into numerous obstacles: from job offers being rescinded to some openings being scams.

To make matters worse, she believed unemployed people with children faced even greater issues with the threat of the Delta variant and lack of childcare options as the school year begins.

"It’s tough for people to get re-employed. These are not excuses. This is what’s really happening," Holmes said on Monday. "A lot of people don’t want to send their kids back to school. They don’t want them to get COVID or bring COVID back.” 

"The jobs that are out there simply aren’t paying a living wage," she added. 

While the stop of expanded benefits brings obvious pain for people still looking for jobs, some businesses in the region believe the expiration of the programs could help them fill numerous job openings.

Many restaurants and businesses are still in need of help, with some offering special bonuses to attract job seekers.

Khalil Azar, who owns the MeJana restaurant in Arlington, spoke to WUSA9 in early May and pointed to the extra unemployment benefits as a big reason for the worker shortage he was experiencing. 

"They are not motivated to work. They get the same money as if they were working," he said. "They prefer to stay at home as they are getting checks every week.” 

During an interview on CBS This Morning on Monday, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh echoed the issues mentioned by Holmes and said many unemployed people were likely concerned about the spread of the Delta variant.

However, he said the Biden administration had put a focus on workforce development, and getting back to work highlighted the need to get vaccinated.

"It’s about keeping you safe and alive, keeping your kids safe and alive and the people around you," Walsh said. 

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