If plan ‘doable,’ state will apply for $300 unemployment supplement

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – The state will apply for the $300 in federal unemployment benefits as long as it is “doable,” Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.

The state just learned of the available program Monday after being notified by the White House late last week that the process was coming.

“We are reviewing the application,” Beshear said when asked about it during his daily coronavirus briefing. “If the feds are going to provide $300 and not create an unworkable situation, then yea, we’re going to take it.

“We just want to make sure all the questions are answered. How long is the money available and what happens when it runs out, who qualifies and any limits…we just want to make sure everything we are applying for before we apply for  it, before we sign on the dotted line.

“I wish Congress would agree on the entire $600, but we want to understand everything before we sign….If this is doable, we will do it,” Beshear said, noting he expects the process from the state’s end to be done “in a matter of days.”

As part of its original coronavirus relief efforts, Congress approved an additional $600 a week in unemployment benefits. But those benefits expired at the end of July and Congress and the White House have not been able to reach an agreement on another plan.

Two weekends ago, President Trump signed an executive order providing a $400 a week extension but that order was filled with questions and loopholes. The administration spent last week working to correct those deficiencies, including the funding.

Members of the Republican leadership in the Kentucky General Assembly sent Beshear a letter Monday urging the state to apply for the money.

The big change the Trump Administration made was saying it will allow states to use unemployment benefits the state already is paying as the state’s match toward drawing down the additional federal money. Originally the feds said the state’s had to put up another $100 to get the $300 and many states said they couldn’t afford that.

Meanwhile, the governor said the state still plans to reopen some of the unemployment and jobs centers closed by the previous administration, but it must first get caught up on current unemployment and be sure any additional measures don’t bog the system down again.

“It doesn’t do us any good to open up offices and not be able to handle it. The same for this new benefit, we don’t want to get into something and have a problem. We want to go in fully understanding. But it it’s like it is now and we are set up for it, we’ll do it.”

As for the backlog of claims dating back to March and April, Beshear said the state continues to make “steady progress” although it’s not fast enough.

“They are still down to those letters that have to be sent with them. We are making steady progress…but it’s still too slow. We do intend to open the regional offices again, but we have to get caught up first,” he stated.