Trump orders orders400 Federal Unemployment Benefits - Here's what you need to know

Trump orders orders400 Federal Unemployment Benefits - Here's what you need to know

While lawmakers work to enact the stimulus package (STIMULUS CHECK 2), President Trump has his own bailout plan. On Saturday, President Trump signed an executive order extending federal unemployment benefits at $400 through the end of the year.

This cuts the $600 check that had been paid weekly to unemployed Americans until the previous month, but replaces a portion of the unemployment benefits that expired in July.

The legality of this and other Executive Orders continues to be debated, but it could help reopen negotiations on the bailout bill and focus attention on the date of the second stimulus check.

However, this presidential order does not include stimulus check 2. Instead, it covers eviction deferrals, student loan relief, and weekly benefits for the 10.2% of the unemployed through December 27.

President Trump initially said that the state would pay $100 of the $400 earmarked for unemployment assistance, but later conceded that position. Now Trump has said that the federal government may step in if states simply do not have the funds.

So where is stimulus 2? President Trump has said he is in favor of a "very generous" second round, and both parties are advocating for direct stimulus implementation. However, there is disagreement over the guidelines for eligibility for Stimulus 2 and whether $1,200 is an appropriate amount, which is why the President may have left it to Congress to debate.

Negotiations on Stimulus 2 have taken longer than officials had hoped. The Senate has been forced to postpone a recess that was supposed to begin this week, and it remains to be seen how close they are to agreeing on a plan.

House Democrats are seeking to extend the $600 weekly benefit included in the final bailout bill, but may delay when Stimulus 2 arrives.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told ABC This Week on Sunday that Democrats and Republicans are in agreement on the second stimulus check, but are wrangling over the amount of federal unemployment benefits.

If agreement is reached, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who represents the White House in negotiations, said the IRS could send out stimulus check 2 within a week at the earliest.

If you want to see how much money is coming your way, enter your information into this stimulus check 2 calculator to check your eligibility under the HEALS Act.

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