Louisiana Jobless Benefits Increase For the 1st Time in 10 Years

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With the craziness that has been visited upon the world of employment over the last couple of years, it would be completely understandable if the latest tweak to unemployment seemed like yet another knee-jerk reaction to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.  Not only is that not the case, but some say the most recent change to jobless benefits in Louisiana is long overdue.

According to a report from the Advocate, the amount of money paid to a qualified unemployed Louisiana resident just went up for the first time in a solid decade.  On Sunday, January 2nd, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit in the Sportsman's paradise increased by 11%.  That means that the maximum payment sent out to qualifying residents jumped from $247 to $275 this week.

According to secretary for the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Cates, the move was long overdue as Louisiana has one of the lowest benefit amounts in the country.  She claims that in the 10 years since the last increase, the price of everything has gone up.

This increase basically boils down to a compromise between Louisiana Republicans and our democratic-leaning Governor John Bel Edwards.  The Republican-controlled Legislature only approved the $28 weekly benefit on June 10th of 2021 on the condition that Edwards pull out of the federal government's $300 weekly supplemental benefit early.