INDIANAPOLIS — Pandemic-related unemployment benefits have temporarily stopped for thousands of Hoosiers, including those on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program.
That program expired late last month. The federal government approved a continued assistance program, but those funds are not yet being distributed in Indiana.
Many people who rely on those unemployment benefits say they worry about how they are going to pay their bills if this is not resolved soon.
"There is just zero transparency about what is going on so it’s really hard for us to plan or do anything at this point until we get concrete information on how it’s going to be handled," said one man who was receiving pandemic unemployment assistance who asked not to be identified. "There are people that are really going to be hurting unless they get this squared away. You’re looking at a lot of people that are giving up meals and places to stay at this point because they don’t have benefits."
You can view a notice on the Department of Workforce Development's website. You'll need to scroll down. https://www.in.gov/dwd/Workforce Development Message
It says the department is "waiting on guidance" from the U.S. Department of Labor before implementing the new programs. As of now, there is no timeline on when that will be.
