WATERLOO, Iowa (KWWL) -- For Jonathan Gutierrez, the last few three months have been frustrating, agonizing, and stressful.
Guitierrez has been unemployed since the Nevada hotel he was working at closed down in March because of the pandemic. He was getting by on the expanded pandemic benefits, but those ran out in early November. More than three months later, Gutierrez and his family are struggling to make ends meet and are unsure how much longer they can hold on.
"No money, no income, so I can't pay my bill on time," Gutierrez said. "I used up all my savings."
The programs were renewed back in December, but lawmakers waited until the last possible minute to sign it, creating a gap in benefits for Iowans like Gutierrez.
He had to move back in with his mother because he couldn't afford his apartment anymore. His unemployment benefits were the family's primary source of money. They are struggling to pay bills, court fees, car payments, and insurance.
"This is people's lives that are getting impacted. People are losing homes. People can't even afford food," he said. "They said there is going to be a gap. We don't know how big the gap is going to be."
Gutierrez said he has tried several times to get answers from Iowa Workforce development but was referred to their website.
In a release of weekly unemployment numbers put out Thursday morning, IWD announced it started re-issuing the additional $300 per week payments, including retroactive payments going back to the start of the gap on December 27.
IWD said it paid out $19,193,400 in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program last week.
As for the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Unemployment Assistance programs, payments will resume in the middle of next week.
"IWD will implement the new PEUC benefit extensions program February 16, 2021. Claimants should begin receiving deposits within 5-7 business days. We expect the PUA extended benefit programs to begin paying February 17, 2021. Most claimants who were already on the PUA program previously did not see any lapse in payments. IWD will automatically enroll all Iowans who are eligible for the PEUC and PUA program extension. There is no need to call or reapply for the additional PEUC or PUA weeks and if any additional information is needed, IWD will contact claimants directly. We appreciate your patience as we worked to implement the new programs created under the second stimulus bill."
Iowa Workforce Development
While help is on the horizon, it is an agonizing wait for families like Gutierrez's as they struggle to stay afloat.
"We can't wait any longer," he said. "People have to pay food, pay bills. It is so frustrating."
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