State government plans to end federal unemployment benefits related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2021

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Responses by state

On May 4, 2021, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) became the first governor in the U.S. to announce his state would opt out of all federal unemployment benefit programs related to the coronavirus pandemic by June 30.[1]

After Gianforte's announcement, at least 25 additional states also announced plans to end enhanced federal unemployment benefits related to COVID-19. Twenty-five states that planned to end pandemic-related federal unemployment benefits had Republican governors. One state (Louisiana) had a Democratic governor.

The American Rescue Plan, signed on March 11, 2021, extended federal unemployment benefit programs related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including the federal government's $300 per week add-on to state unemployment benefits, through September 6, 2021.[2] The legislation also extended unemployment benefits for self-employed and gig workers, extended benefits for unemployed mixed earners (people who earned money through employment and self-employment), and extended the number of weeks individuals could receive unemployment.

This page focuses on state governments that ended or announced plans to end the enhanced $300 federal unemployment benefits before they expired on September 6, 2021. This page does not cover the special benefits for self-employed individuals, gig workers, or mixed earners. Click here to check your state's unemployment website for more detailed information.

In this article you will find:

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Recent updates

  • Aug. 17, 2021: Indiana Court of Appeals Judge James Kirsch overturned a trial court ruling that blocked Gov. Eric Holcomb’s (R) attempt to end the state’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Holcomb pulled out of those programs on June 19, but Marion Superior Court Judge John Haley ordered the state to resume paying pandemic unemployment on June 28.[3]
  • Aug. 8, 2021: Oklahoma County District Judge Anthony Bonner ordered the Oklahoma Department of Labor to reinstate federal pandemic unemployment benefits. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) ended the state’s participation in the federal program on June 26.[4]
  • July 31, 2021: Louisiana stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) made the announcement June 16.[5]

Map of states that ended enhanced federal unemployment benefits related to the coronavirus pandemic early

As of August 19, 2021, 26 states announced end dates for the $300 federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits. Twenty-five states had Republican governors, and one state (Louisiana) had a Democratic governor. Three states that announced end dates for federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits (Indiana, Maryland, and Oklahoma) were ordered by courts to resume federal unemployment benefits. Indiana's halt to federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits was later upheld by a higher court.

Interact with the map below to see when the supplemental $300 benefit ended in each state.

States that ended $300 federal COVID-19 unemployment benefits early
State Date of $300 federal benefits expiration
Alaska June 12
Iowa June 12
Mississippi June 12
Missouri June 12
Alabama June 19
Idaho June 19
Indiana June 19 (Court order upholding end to benefits on Aug. 16)
Nebraska June 19
New Hampshire June 19
North Dakota June 19
West Virginia June 19
Wyoming June 19
Arkansas June 26
Florida June 26
Georgia June 26
Ohio June 26
Oklahoma June 26 (Court order to resume benefits on August 8)
South Dakota June 26
Texas June 26
Utah June 26
Montana June 27
South Carolina June 30
Maryland July 3 (Court order to resume benefits on July 3)
Tennessee July 3
Arizona July 10
Louisiana July 31

Timeline

  • Aug. 17, 2021: Indiana Court of Appeals Judge James Kirsch overturned a trial court ruling that blocked Gov. Eric Holcomb’s (R) attempt to end the state’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Holcomb pulled out of those programs on June 19, but Marion Superior Court Judge John Haley ordered the state to resume paying pandemic unemployment on June 28.[3]
  • Aug. 8, 2021: Oklahoma County District Judge Anthony Bonner ordered the Oklahoma Department of Labor to reinstate federal pandemic unemployment benefits. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) ended the state’s participation in the federal program on June 26.[4]
  • July 31, 2021: Louisiana stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) made the announcement June 16.[5]
  • July 13, 2021: Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill ruled Maryland must continue participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) ended participation in those programs on July 3. The programs were scheduled to end in September. Hogan said he would not challenge the ruling.[6]
  • July 12, 2021: The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled the state must comply with Superior Court Judge John Hanley’s June 25 emergency order to resume participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) ended the state’s participation in those programs on June 19. [7]
  • July 10, 2021: Arizona stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs on July 10. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) made the announcement May 13.[8]
  • July 3, 2021:
    • Tennessee stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Bill Lee (R) made the announcement May 11.[9]
    • Baltimore Circuit Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill issued a temporary order requiring the state to continue participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) had said the state would stop participating in such programs on July 3.[10]
  • June 26, 2021:
    • Arkansas stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) made the announcement May 7.[11]
    • Florida stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made the announcement May 24.[12]
    • Georgia stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) made the announcement May 13.[13]
    • Montana stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 27. Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) made the announcement May 4.[1]
    • Ohio stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) made the announcement May 13.[14]
    • Oklahoma stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) made the announcement May 17.[15]
    • South Dakota stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Kristi Noem (R) made the announcement May 12.[16]
    • Texas stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) made the announcement May 17.[17]
    • Utah stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs June 26. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) made the announcement May 12.[18]
  • June 25, 2021: Marion Superior Court Judge John Haley temporarily halted Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s (R) decision to end the state’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs. Holcomb announced in May the state would stop participating in the programs on June 19, prompting a lawsuit that argued Indiana law requires the state to participate in federal unemployment insurance programs. In a statement, Holcomb said he would discuss appealing Haley’s ruling with the Attorney General.[19]
  • June 19, 2021:
    • Alabama stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Kay Ivey (R) made the announcement May 10.[20]
    • Idaho The state stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Brad Little (R) made the announcement May 11.[21]
    • Indiana stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) made the announcement May 17.[22]
    • Nebraska stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) made the announcement May 24.[23]
    • New Hampshire stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) made the announcement May 13.[24]
    • North Dakota stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Doug Burgum (R) made the announcement May 10.[25]
    • West Virginia stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Jim Justice (R) made the announcement May 14.[26]
    • Wyoming stopped participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Mark Gordon (R) made the announcement May 11.[27]
  • June 16, 2021: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced the state would end its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs on July 31.[5]
  • June 12, 2021:
    • Alaska ended its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) made the announcement May 14.[28]
    • Iowa ended its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) made the announcement May 10.[29]
    • Mississippi ended its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) made the announcement May 10.[30]
    • Missouri ended its participation in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs. Gov. Mike Parson (R) made the announcement May 11.[31]
  • June 2, 2021: Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on July 3.[32]
  • May 24, 2021:
    • Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 19.[23]
    • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.[12]
  • May 17, 2021:
    • Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 19.[22]
    • Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.[15]
    • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the state would end its participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.[17]
  • May 14, 2021:
    • Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning June 12.[28]
    • West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning June 19.[26]
  • May 13, 2021:
    • Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning July 10.[8]
    • Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs starting June 26.[13]
    • New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs starting June 19.[24]
    • Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs starting June 26.[14]
  • May 12, 2021:
    • South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) announced she would end the state’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.[33]
    • Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) announced he would end the state’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs on June 26.[34]
  • May 11, 2021:
    • Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning June 19.[21]
    • Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) announced the state would stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 12.[31]
    • Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning July 3.[9]
    • Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic unemployment programs beginning June 19.[27]
  • May 10, 2021:
    • Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) announced the state would stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 19.[20]
    • Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) announced the state would stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 12.[29]
    • Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) announced the state would stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 12.[30]
    • North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced the state would stop participating in pandemic-related federal unemployment benefit programs starting June 19.[25]
  • May 7, 2021: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits programs starting June 26.[11]
  • May 6, 2021: South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits programs starting June 30.[35]
  • May 4, 2021: Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) announced the state would stop participating in federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits programs starting June 27.[1]

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Montana Office of the Governor, "MONTANA TO LAUNCH RETURN-TO-WORK BONUSES, RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE SHORTAGE," accessed May 11, 2021
  2. ↑ Forbes, "New Stimulus Package: Unemployment Benefits, $300 Per Week Extended Until September," accessed May 11, 2021
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Indy Star, "Indiana Court of Appeals says Holcomb can end pandemic unemployment, but payments continue," August 17, 2021
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Hill, "Oklahoma judge orders state to resume federal unemployment benefits," August 8, 2021
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 CNN, "Louisiana will be the first Democrat-led state to end $300-a-week pandemic unemployment benefit early," June 17, 2021
  6. ↑ CBS Baltimore, "Maryland Unemployment Benefits To Continue To September, Gov. Hogan Will Not Challenge," July 13, 2021
  7. ↑ WFYI, "Court Of Appeals Upholds Emergency Court Order To Restart Federal Unemployment," July 12, 2021
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Arizona Office of the Governor, "Governor Ducey Announces “Arizona Back To Work," accessed May 13, 2021
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nashville Tennessean, "Gov. Bill Lee opts Tennessee out of $300 federal unemployment supplement, other programs," accessed May 11, 2021
  10. ↑ The Baltimore Sun, "Judge orders Maryland to pay enhanced unemployment benefits; state appeals ruling," July 3, 2021
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Arkansas Office of the Governor, "Arkansas to Opt Out of Federal Supplemental Unemployment Program, Governor Hutchinson Announces," accessed May 11, 2021
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Politico, "DeSantis withdrawing Florida from federal unemployment boost," accessed May 24, 2021
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 11 ALIVE, "Georgia to opt out of extra $300 federal unemployment supplement, Kemp says," accessed May 13, 2021
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 NBC News, "Ohio, Georgia join growing list of GOP-led states opting out of federal unemployment benefits," accessed May 13, 2021
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tulsa World, "Watch Now: State officials announce end to extra federal unemployment, offer $1,200 incentive to return to work," accessed May 17, 2021
  16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named SD512
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 KHOU 11, "Gov. Abbott announces end to federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits," accessed May 17, 2021
  18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named UT512
  19. ↑ WDRP, "Judge: Indiana must continue federal unemployment benefits," June 26, 2021
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Alabama Office of the Governor, "Governor Kay Ivey Announces End of Participation in All Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Programs," accessed May 11, 2021
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Idaho Office of the Governor, "“It’s time to get back to work” – Gov. Little ends Idaho’s participation in all federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs," accessed May 11, 2021
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Indiana Office of the Governor, "Indiana will end federal pandemic unemployment benefits," accessed May 17, 2021
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 FOX42, "Governor Pete Ricketts announced the end of unemployment and directed health measures," accessed May 24, 2021
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 WCAX 3, "New Hampshire to end $300 supplemental federal unemployment payments," accessed May 13, 2021
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 KFYR TV, "Burgum separating ND from federal COVID unemployment assistance," accessed May 11, 2021
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 WOWKTV, "Justice: WV will end supplemental unemployment on June 19th," accessed May 14, 2021
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Oil City News, "GOVERNOR GORDON WITHDRAWS WYOMING FROM COVID-ERA UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS," accessed May 11, 2021
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Alaska Public Media, "Alaska to end $300 per week unemployment payments," accessed May 14, 2021
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 KWWL, "Gov. Reynolds announces end to federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs," accessed May 11, 2021
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 WLBT, "Mississippi to end additional federal unemployment benefits in June," accessed May 11, 2021
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Missouri Office of the Governor, "GOVERNOR PARSON ANNOUNCES MISSOURI TO END ALL FEDERAL PANDEMIC-RELATED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS," accessed May 11, 2021
  32. ↑ ABC 7News, "Gov. Hogan announces Md. will discontinue enhanced pandemic federal unemployment benefits," June 1, 2021
  33. ↑ Rapid City Journal, "South Dakota announces termination of federal unemployment benefits in June," accessed May 13, 2021
  34. ↑ Deseret Times, "Why Utah is joining growing list of states turning down extra COVID-19 unemployment benefits," accessed May 13, 2021
  35. ↑ South Carolina Office of the Governor, "South Carolina to Return to Pre-Pandemic Unemployment Program to Address Workforce Shortages," accessed May 11, 2021
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