Millions of Americans are still staggering from the effects of COVID-19 and rely on Unemployment Insurance (UI) to cover essential expenses. Too often, however, these monthly payments fall short of a person's basic needs. According to a New report from Real Estate Witch, In 75 of the 109 cities surveyed, the user interface does not cover the minimal costs of rent, food and transport.
The report finds significant regional differences in the amount of user interface people get, which directly affects their ability to pay rent. (Each state determines the amount of UI, usually based on previous income and number of dependents.) The results are sometimes surprising: while the South has a lower cost of living, it is actually the most unaffordable region for UI users. The northeast, on the other hand, is the cheapest.
The differences in the amount of user interface can be noticeable. For example, weekly unemployment insurance ranges from $ 5 in Alaska to $ 1,234 in Massachusetts.
Average UI payments in the Northeast ($ 1,738.32 per month) are more than double that in the South ($ 870.81). The average payment is $ 1,311.18 in the Midwest and $ 1,249.65 in the West.
In addition, there are large regional differences in the duration of Services. While most states (42) allow residents to claim unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks, those in the south offer less: North Carolina (12 weeks), Florida (12 weeks), Georgia (14 weeks), and South Carolina (20 weeks) ).
The result is that 65% of people in the Northeast can afford a studio apartment on the UI, compared to 42% in the Midwest, 25% in the West and only 15% in the South.
But even without the cost of food and transportation, the average user interface wasn't enough to cover studio apartment rental In 25 cities, the report said: "Almost all of these metros are in California (20%) and Florida (36%) – both of which are heavily featured on our worst metro lists – along with other southern states (40%). )). ”
In terms of larger family rents, the study finds that residents of only 12 out of 109 cities can afford the rent of a two-bedroom apartment on top of the basic cost. Of those 12, six are in Ohio, two in western Massachusetts, two in Pennsylvania, and one in Washington and Iowa. In the southern cities of the study, a two-bedroom apartment is out of the reach of UI users.
Where people live affects their housing situation, but the bottom line is that the benefits of the user interface are generally “underwhelming ”- possibly“ many Americans in financial distress, especially during a pandemic that can result in long periods of unemployment for many ”.
