quality:corruption
COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021)

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in December 2020, the federal government provided extra benefit payments of $300 per week for 11 weeks (through March 14, 2021). In January 2021, newly inaugurated President Joe Biden 's administration announced a proposal that would further extend unemployment insurance with additional payments of $400 per week through September 2021. Under the American Rescue Plan passed in March 2021, extra benefit payments were increased to $400 per week and benefits were extended through September 6, 2021. While benefits are normally taxable, this law made the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits received in the fiscal year 2020 exempt from taxation. Starting in June 2021, over 20 states, mostly those with Republicans in control of state government, opted to end benefit or eligibility extensions earlier than required.