"Those traditional benefits, which vary widely between states, replaced about 40% of one’s prior wages, according to a national average cited by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The measure’s improved $600-a-week payments, which run through July, aim to boost that wage replacement rate to 100% for the average worker."

In other words, this is a very temporary measure due to the current crisis, and those on unemployment will be making far less than they would by working in a few months. A short-term duct tape measure to stop the bleeding isn't security.

Guessing the 26 million who filed for unemployment won’t be better off. Average salaries are higher than unemployment.

Not sure what the point of this oft-repeated fact is, if not to gas light the trauma out there.

Did you even read the article? After the cares act, in many states the “break even” point where unemployment income is less than your working income is 25-30 dollars an hour. That’s 50k-60k per year. Anybody making less than the median income is going to come out ahead, assuming they were legitimately employed to begin with.

By a European definition, we definitely do not have a "good social safety net". You would be shocked at how inadequate the US system is compared to a "real" social safety net. You can even see this in the COVID crisis where European countries are paying 60-80% of salaries, whereas in the US you get a one time check of $1200. Maybe 1-2 months worth of expenses, and that's being generous. A good example of the different mindsets and standards.

There's federal unemployment assistance of $600 a week in the US.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/23/business/econ...

The $1200 is a 'stimulus' payment going to everyone.

Paying businesses to keep people on payroll may have been a better policy (as the disruption gets longer that changes).

Christ, $600 per week is insane. That's more than twice what I have as a student living in the Netherlands.

$1200 is not going to everyone. Some get $0.

Yes true, I forgot that there's an income taper.

Seems the payment starts decreasing for people earning something like the 70th percentile?

(It's hard to figure because it differs for filing status)

Good point, thanks for correcting me.

You'd be surprised at how poor business operating metrics here vs there