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Unemployed Kansans have less than a week to apply for supplemental program

Posted at 11:34 AM, Dec 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-12-22 12:34:08-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas residents eligible for the federal Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWA) have less than a week left to apply.

The deadline to file an application is Dec. 27, the Kansas Department of Labor said.

The program has already paid out more than $108 million to nearly 68,000 Kansans.

LWA is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and is supplemental to state unemployment benefits.

It provides an additional $300 weekly to claimants who receive at least $100 in unemployment benefits.

Eligible claimants must have been receiving benefits from the weeks ending on Aug. 1 through Sept. 5 and lost their job due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

KDOL said it will continue to make LWA payments until the March 27, 2021, deadline mandated by FEMA, though the department is seeking an extension on that deadline.

KDOL noted that not all unemployment claimants are eligible to receive LWA benefits.