Unemployed workers prepare for loss of $600 FPUC payments

As lawmakers work to come to a resolution on a new COVID-19 relief package, unemployed workers are preparing to lose the additional $600 weekly federal benefit.

IT'S LAST DAY THOSE ONUNEMPLOYMENT CANRECEIVE THAT EXTRA600-DOLLARS.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER EMMA JAMESSPOKE WITH PEOPLESTRUGGLING TO FINDWORK.EMMA JAMES, REPORTING"Many unemployed claimantstell me they want to be clear -they want to go back work,they don't want a handout -but they feel losing that extra600 dollars a week duringsuch an uncertain time isn'tright."HILLARY JONES, LIVES INLAWRENCE"It was an absolute blessingfor us."LAWRENCE RESIDENTHILLARY JONES WASUNKNOWINGLY OVERPAIDUNEMPLOYMENT A FEWYEARS AGO..SHE SAYS THE KANSASDEPARTMENT OF LABORKEPT ALMOST EVERYPAYMENT SHE'S RECEIVEDEXCEPT THE FEDERAL 600.HILLARY JONES, LIVES INLAWRENCE"If it wasn't for the 600dollarswe received, my kids and I,we wouldn't have survived."IF THE PROPOSED 200DOLLAR PAYMENTS IN THEHEALS ACT BECOMES LAW- MICHAEL MENGEL SAYSHE WILL HAVE TO RELY ONFAMILY MEMBERS FORHELP.MICHAEL MENGEL, LIVES INOVERLAND PARK"As it stands right now there'sno foreseeable future whenI'm going to be going back towork."AND IN OLATHE - KELIPAASKE SAYS HERUNEMPLOYMENT WITHOUTTHE 600 BARELY COVERSGROCERIES.I ASKED HOW SHE FEELSABOUT THE PROPOSED 200WEEKLY AMOUNT AND 70PERCENT OF INCOMEAFTER THAT.KELI PAASKE, LIVES IN OLATHE"I really don't think that wouldbe helpful at all, you know ifthey want the economy to getback on its feet they need togive the money to the peoplenot only to pay their bills buttofeel comfortable enough thatthey have some extra."ALL THREE CLAIMANTS SAYTHEY WORRY ABOUT THEKANSAS DEPARTMENT OFLABOR BEING ABLE TO GETTHE SYSTEM UP ANDRUNNING ON TIME.EARLIER THIS WEEK THEDEPARTMENT TOLD ME I-TSTAFF ARE ALREADYPUTTING THEIR HEADSTOGETHER - BUT IT'SGOING TO BE A COMPLEXSYSTEM FOR EVERYSTATE.IN KANSAS CITY,