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The $600 UI benefits were mostly done as a means of practicality, because our unemployment systems were so out of date to efficiently calculate someone's actual

by skwb 6y ago

The $600 UI benefits were mostly done as a means of practicality, because our unemployment systems were so out of date to efficiently calculate someone's actual wage. It's sorta a general broad stroke implimentation that figured that sure, some people may be "overpaid" compared to their regular wage, but the political necessity of passing it ASAP was so great that any delay would be immensely costly.

dragonwriter 6y ago
> The $600 UI benefits were mostly done as a means of practicality, because our unemployment systems were so out of date to efficiently calculate someone's actual wage. It wasn't about actual wages, which state unemployment systems already handle just fine. It was that many systems are too difficult to rapidly change to incorporate complex formula adjustments, but a flat +$N is more easily doable.
- skwb 6y ago
  Not necessarily so! Gig (and self-employed) workers were included to participate in UI under CARES act, who normally are not eligible for UI benefits [1]. You are correct however in clarifying my statement above. [1]. https://www.marketplace.org/2020/06/05/when-does-the-expanded-covid-19-unemployment-insurance-run-out/ https://www.marketplace.org/2020/06/05/when-does-the-expande...
  - dragonwriter 6y ago
    > Not necessarily so! Gig (and self-employed) workers were included to participate in UI under CARES act, who normally are not eligible for UI benefits Sure, and handling them is a potential system problem, but not one addressed by the flat $600 vs. a more complex add-on choice.