Joe Biden, $ 400 unemployment increase would replace 86% of average wage

Workers received an average of $ 323 per week in state benefits in the third quarter of last year, according to the most recent data from the United States Department of Labor. This assistance replaced about 38% of their average pre-layoff salary, which was $ 843 per week.

A $ 400 increase in benefits would increase this replacement rate to 86%.

The supplement would go further in some states, especially those that tend to pay more meager benefits.

In Louisiana, for example, the average worker was getting $ 183 a week in benefits in November, according to the US Department of Labor. For them, an increase of $ 400 would represent a 219% increase in weekly benefits.

Massachusetts, on the other hand, gave the average person $ 491 per week, the largest payment among states in November. A bonus of $ 400 for this worker would give an 81% increase in benefits.

More than 18 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits at the end of 2020, according to the Department of Labor.

States are currently in the process of granting an increase of $ 300 per week to benefits provided by the recently passed $ 900 billion relief Covid law. It should end in mid-March.