Thousands of people in Michigan face losing federal unemployment benefits this week. Unemployment payments tied to the pandemic expire for millions of other people nationwide in the coming days.
Last year, as the pandemic hit the U.S. economy hard, the federal government began offering extra unemployment benefits.
That included payments for freelance and contract workers who normally would not qualify for unemployment.
Those benefits end after Labor Day, but because of Michigan’s unemployment calendar, the last day to claim the funds here is September 4th.
Business groups say there’s no need for extra unemployment funding now, because there are numerous jobs available employers are struggling to fill.
But critics counter the benefits are a lifeline for those who cannot return to work because of health issues or concerns over child care.