Jobless benefit cuts cause lost earnings, spending in US states

WASHINGTON: American states that ended pandemic jobless benefits early saw slight dips in unemployment rates but big declines in spending and income, according to a study released Friday, in what could be a preview of the effects nationwide when the programs end completely.

First created by the CARES Act in March 2020 and extended several times since, the emergency benefits increased weekly unemployment payments and expanded them to freelance workers and the long-term unemployed.

But the federal aid has become controversial in recent months, as critics say it encourages people not to return to work even as Covid-19 vaccines became widely available and businesses struggle to fill open positions.

Officials in 26 states - mostly led by Republicans - have announced early cuts to some or all of the programs, which are due to expire nationwide on September 6.

Analyzing data from 18,648 people who had received unemployment payments, the study found nearly 25 percent had jobs at the end of July in 19 of the 22 states that ended extra benefits in June.

That compares to about 22 percent in the 23 states that continued the programs.

However, the employment gains did not make up for the decline in incomes and spending that followed, according to the researchers from Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Toronto.

"We see a small... rise in earnings of $14 per-week, making up around five percent of the shortfall from benefit decline," they wrote in the study using data from financial services firm Earnin.

However, unemployment benefits fell by $278 a week and "the reduced income was accompanied by a $145 per-week (20 percent) fall in spending."

As the aid ends nationwide, "We could see around $8 billion in reduced spending during September and October. The spending losses are likely to continue further as additional workers take time to enter the workforce," they wrote.