Federal Unemployment Payments To Be Eliminated: Gov. Kemp

ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday announced that he would be suspending federal enhanced unemployment benefits for out-of-work Georgians.

In June, the additional $300 per week added to individual state unemployment payments provided by President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan will be cut off.

Kemp said in a statement that business recovery from the shutdowns of the pandemic was strong and this decision was made with the goal of helping to jumpstart employment in the state.

“To build on our momentum, accelerate a full economic recovery, and get more Georgians back to work in good-paying jobs, our state will end its participation in the federal COVID-19 unemployment programs, effective June 26th,” he said. “As we emerge from this pandemic, Georgians deserve to get back to normal — and today’s announced economic recovery plan will help more employees and businesses across our state do so.”

In addition to weekly $300 federal payments, Georgia’s exclusion from the pandemic relief funding will also end aid for self-employed or gig workers who normally would not qualify for unemployment, eliminate benefit extensions beyond the state’s normal duration of unemployment benefits, and eliminate the additional $100 in assistance for mixed earners.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday evening, after discussing the state of gasoline in Georgia following the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, Kemp blamed Biden’s pandemic recovery plan for the shortage of workers in the state.

“We’re taking away this federal subsidy that is encouraging people not to get into the workforce,” he said. “Every small business owner and the workers that are currently working ... they need more people. It’s hurting productivity. We’ve got to get more people into the workforce. We’ve got a lot of resources for them and a record number of jobs that are available.”

The Georgia Department of Labor and other state agencies will begin offering resources for job search support, education and training, as well as childcare and transportation services, officials said.

“GDOL has dispersed almost $22 billion in the past fourteen months to support families in this crisis, paying mortgages, electric bills, and grocery tabs when Georgians were in greatest need. It is critical for us to support our economy and local businesses by providing solutions to the roadblocks many Georgians have faced when returning to work,” Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. “Right now, the state has a historic number of jobs listed on Employ Georgia. We are seeing some of the highest pay scales with enhanced benefits and signing bonuses.”