Missouri to end in June all federal unemployment benefits related to pandemic

By the Missouri Times

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson moved to cut federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits Tuesday, arguing the move would encourage more Missourians to get back into the workforce. Missouri will phase out of the six programs by June 12. 

“From conversations with business owners across the state, we know that they are struggling not because of COVID-19 but because of labor shortages resulting from these excessive federal unemployment programs,” Parson said. “While these benefits provided supplementary financial assistance during the height of COVID-19, they were intended to be temporary, and their continuation has instead worsened the workforce issues we are facing. It’s time that we end these programs that have ultimately incentivized people to stay out of the workforce.” 

The six programs are: 

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
• Emergency Unemployment Relief for Government Entities and Nonprofit Organizations
• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation
• Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation
• 100 Percent Reimbursement of Short-Time Compensation Benefit Costs Paid Under State Law
• Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation