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Tennesseans should see new federal jobless aid by early next week

The state last week received Federal Emergency Management Agency money to share with those who are jobless amid the pandemic.

TENNESSEE, USA — Tennesseans getting regular state unemployment should start seeing an additional $900 boost this week, officials said last Tuesday. 

The state last week received Federal Emergency Management Agency money to share with those who are jobless amid the pandemic.

But the aid is temporary, said Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Jeff McCord. It likely will only last five or six weeks.

Tennessee will send out three weeks' worth of the aid, $300 a week times three, at one time to cover this month, McCord said during Gov. Bill Lee's weekly press briefing.

The state has gotten about $236 million from FEMA, McCord said.

Meantime, the state will be talking with FEMA about another round of federal aid for the unemployed for September.

It appears likely there won't be any more for Tennesseans to receive after that because the total amount available to U.S. states and territories is about $44 billion -- and that likely will go fast as states step up to get it.

President Trump announced the additional, temporary aid in early August after congressional leaders unable to agree on another federal aid package with his administration.

"If all states and all territories participate there'll be less money for everyone," McCord said.

States have until Sept. 10 to declare their intent to apply for the FEMA aid.

"This is not traditional unemployment," McCord said "It's completely different."

Lee also announced last Tuesday that those now seeking state unemployment, which maxes out at $275 a week, will once again have to start showing that they're engaging with prospective employers to get a job.

That traditional "work search" requirement has been forgiven during the virus pandemic and its attendant deep recession. Not anymore, Lee said.

If you're getting unemployment insurance assistance, you're obligated to look for work, McCord said.

The requirement goes into effect in September, McCord said.

Unemployment is meant to be a transitional program, he said.

The state's unemployment rate for July was about 9.5 percent, an increase from historic lows early this year before COVID-19 hit the United States. Some Tennessee counties are seeing better rates, and some are seeing worse.

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