WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor approved Michigan for a FEMA grant under the Lost Wages Assistance program. The grant funding will allow Michigan to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefit. FEMA will work with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to implement a system to make this funding available to Michigan residents.
On Aug. 8, President Trump made available up to $44 billion from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Americans who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Aug. 20, the state of Michigan agreed to administer a lost wages program for its citizens who are unemployed due to COVID-19.
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah were previously approved for assistance.
FEMA looks forward to working with the governors of additional states who agree to administer a lost wages program to bring financial relief to unemployed Americans.