On the evening of December 27, 2020, local time, just one day before the U.S. government was forced to close down, U.S. President Trump finally signed the $2.3 trillion “Coronavirus Relief Act” passed by Congress, including the second round of economic relief plan of $900 billion and 1. $4 trillion of government expenditure budget.
However, for more than 12 million unemployed Americans, this is a “late bill”, whose weekly unemployment benefits have been “off payment”.
Under the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, many couples in the United States are both unemployed. The unemployment benefit of $300 a week is the only source of life for the whole family.
The previous round of unemployment assistance plan expired on December 26, 2020 local time.
Although Trump finally signed the bill to keep the unemployment assistance plan in effect from December 27, 2020 to March 14, 2021, considering the lag of state computer system resetting, it may take weeks for a new round of unemployment benefits to arrive, which makes it urgent need. The unemployed who pay various bills are in trouble.
This is the case with the Fariha Haq family.
After the outbreak of the epidemic, Fariha and her husband lost their jobs, and the four children could not go to school. They could not afford to pay for food alone and had to go to the “food bank” to get free food to tide over the difficulties.
Fariha, who has worked as a staff member of the Food Bank, said, “I used to distribute food to others, but now it’s my turn to get it myself.”
Unemployed Fariha Haak: I feel overwhelmed by life. I don’t know how to live. It’s too difficult.
I am grateful to continue to have unemployment benefits next, but it will take a long time to wait for the money to arrive.
Fariha also said that even if they receive unemployment benefits, they have to pay thousands of dollars in rent and $8,000 in credit card bills, “the money has to be spent before they cover the heat in their hands”.
According to the statistics of the U.S. investigation agency, nearly 12 million tenants in the United States were in arrears of $5,859 on rent on average this month.
