EARLY Benefits for Workers Act

This bill changes federal grants that states receive to provide reemployment services and eligibility checks to people claiming unemployment benefits. States could use up to 20 percent of these grant funds, or $3,000,000, whichever is less, to offer these services as soon as a person files an initial unemployment claim. A state could not deny a claim based only on the person not taking part in these early services before their first week of benefits. If a person who received early services is later found ineligible, they would stop receiving the services unless another source pays for them or they are open to the public. The state would not have to return grant money already spent on that person.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Christopher A. Coons Democrat sponsor
• 2 cosponsors