Massachusetts residents claiming the lowest unemployment benefits during the last round of federal bonus benefits will reportedly receive an additional $1,800.
The bonus is part of a legislation passed by the House and Senate and signed by Governor Charlie Barker on Monday, the Boston Herald reports.
“This legislation will make the necessary changes to make sure people with less than $100 in weekly benefits receive that $1,800 in added income,” said state Sen. Patricia Jehlen, who sponsored the bill and was crucial in getting it passed less than two weeks after it was filed, via the Boston Herald.
The quick passage of the legislation was a rare change after lawmakers have failed to act on many new important bills since the Massachusetts Legislature extended its formal session nearly three months ago. Since then, lawmakers have failed to decide on several crucial pieces of legislation that led to the session extension including police reform, health care, transportation and a state budget, the Boston Herald reports.
“This bill reflects the Legislature’s commitment to supporting those who are most acutely feeling the effects of the pandemic,” said state Sen. Michael Rodrigues, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, via the Boston Herald.
Many other unemployed Massachusetts residents have already received their $1,800 boost that gave them an additional $300 in weekly unemployment benefits for six weeks during a span that began at the end of July and concluded during the first week of September.