More than a salary: what help do those who lose their jobs due to a pandemic get in the US

“My friend lives in Oklahoma, she is an ultrasound technician, and together with her husband she receives $8800 a month in unemployment benefits, and now it is more profitable for them not to work,” my friend Valeria, who lives in New York state, told me. She is a dentist, and while she was unable to work for two months, she received approximately the same payment - $4400 per person.

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“But life in Oklahoma is much cheaper than in New York,” says Valeria. For example, renting a two-room apartment in Manhattan costs $4200, in Oklahoma City - $800.

Now, protective equipment has been brought into her clinic, so she will work with urgent dental cases two days a week, risking contracting the coronavirus: in the counties where Valeria lives and works, there are more cases of COVID-19 after New York City itself.

Two trillion against coronavirus

$2 US - this amazing amount of assistance to Americans during the pandemic was included in the relief package passed by Congress on March 000. According to the package, each permanent resident of the country who pays taxes and has an income up to a certain level was paid up to $000 in one-time assistance and $000 per child.

In addition, people who lost their jobs began receiving $600 weekly payments, in addition to regular unemployment benefits, which can reach $500 a week in some states. Is $1100 a lot or a little to live in the USA? The answer varies by state.

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How much is life in the USA?

The standard and cost of living in the United States illustrates well этР° РєР ° ртР°. This is the calculation of the annual dirty salary before taxes (average quarter of income) for a family of two adults and a child.

The general trend is this: it is more expensive to live on the coasts and in the north than in the center and south of the country. The most expensive states are the District of Columbia (Washington), California, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, the cheapest are Idaho, South Dakota, Arkansas, West Virginia and Kentucky.

How much do the unemployed get?

At the same time, each state determines what help to pay to a person who has lost his job. As seen on this map, unemployment benefits in expensive California or Arizona are comparatively lower than in cheap Kentucky or North Dakota.

Because of this, millions of people who have maintained their low-paid jobs may feel that it would be more profitable for them not to work at all and to receive help from the state.

It is these representatives of the working class who produce food, clean in hospitals, stand at store checkouts, work in construction, and drive taxis who often do not have enough personal protective equipment and, due to frequent contact with people, are most at risk of contracting the coronavirus and bringing infection home.

At the same time, getting this help can be difficult. In some cases, people who lost their jobs spent more than a month just registering with unemployment offices. In some states - and it is the states that provide financial assistance - the influx of users has caused application websites to stop working, and long lines have formed outside offices.

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Long-term perspective

At the same time, it should be remembered that unemployment benefits are temporary, and are usually paid from 12 to 26 weeks depending on the state; the two trillion dollar aid package extended this time by another 13 weeks. But the “coronavirus” bonus of $600 is issued even less - until July 31. Therefore, people who receive payments from the government now will soon be forced to look for new jobs as the US economy begins to revive.

At the same time, living in America is gradually becoming more expensive. April was a month of soaring food prices—the highest since 1974 in the United States. On average, the cost of groceries in stores over four weeks increased by 2,6% - and this is a significant indicator for American consumers, accustomed to annual inflation of 0,12-2,4% (2015-2019).

Congress is now considering a new record $ 3 trillion aid package to the US economy. It includes a $ 200 fund for people working in hazardous conditions. However, according to this law, unlike March, there is no unity among Republicans and Democrats.

The original column is published on the website. Ukrainian service "Voices of America".

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