Governor JB Pritzker says there are no plans to cut enhanced unemployment benefits for out-of-work Illinoisans.
Several states are ending the extra 300 dollars a month benefit, with leaders saying people aren’t as motivated to go back to work these days. Governor Pritzker disagrees.
“The reality is there are many people who have children at home that they still need to take care of because of circumstances of the pandemic. There are circumstances as well where people are afraid to go back to work and staying out of the workforce and those are legitimate reasons why people might remain on unemployment.”
But Representative Martin Mclaughlin of Lake Barrington says the extra 300 dollars a week is making it very hard for businesses to reopen any further.
“We need to demand that the recipients of continuing benefits must seek employment. There are over 120,000 jobs available currently in Illinois. Many with living wages, benefits, and great opportunities. Enhancing the continued benefit payments are incentivizing those people to stay home.”
The American Rescue Plan provides the extra unemployment money for states until Labor Day if they continue their participation that long.
