Metro Labor Council Hails UI Benefit Increases

This Sunday, individuals filing for unemployment benefits in the District of Columbia will see the first increase in their weekly benefits in over ten years. “At a time when more and more people are struggling to get by in the District, we know just how scary suddenly finding yourself without employment can be for working people,” said Metro Washington Council Executive Director Carlos Jimenez. “Critical programs like Unemployment Insurance were created so that no working person will be thrown off the ‘economic cliff’ when they find themselves without a job.” 

He added that the Metro Council “takes great pride in having contributed to the effort to modernize DC’s UI program to meet the needs of working families in 2016.” In addition to increasing the maximum weekly UI benefit amount, individuals with part-time earnings are now able to receive a larger portion of their weekly benefits, and seasonal workers and those with inconsistent work histories are now eligible to get up to 26 weeks of benefits. Alongside recent increases to the DC minimum wage and other policy proposals like paid-family leave, the UI improvements “will go a long way to making our economy one that allows working families to work and live in the District,” said Jimenez, who also commended DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC City Council for their leadership “and for listening to the voices of workers, advocates, and many of our affiliated unions who worked tirelessly to make these improvements happen." Read more here