SUPPORT for New Workers Act

To amend subtitle A of title II of division A of the CARES Act to support workers as they re-enter the labor force by providing a newly employed worker allowance, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strengthening Unemployment Programs to Provide Opportunities for Recovery and Training for New Workers Act SUPPORT for New Workers Act 2. Newly employed worker allowance (a) In general Section 2104(b) of the Cares Act ( Public Law 116–136 (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Newly employed worker allowance (A) In general Any agreement under this section shall provide that the State agency of the State will, in addition to payments described in paragraph (1), make up to 9 weekly payments for each week during the benefit period, in the amount of $180, to each individual who— (i) was eligible for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation under paragraph (1) or for pandemic unemployment assistance under section 2102 for any week ending on or after the date of enactment of this paragraph; (ii) is no longer so eligible (as determined by the State), as a result of earnings due to commencing employment; and (iii) remains employed, as verified by the individual (with notice of such payments provided to the individual’s employer) on at least a biweekly basis, throughout the benefit period. (B) Benefit period For purposes of this paragraph, the term benefit period (i) beginning on the date the individual commenced employment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii); and (ii) ending on September 6, 2021. (C) Timing of payments (i) In general Payments for which an individual is eligible under this paragraph (including a one-time lump sum payment as described in clause (ii)) shall be made as soon as practicable after the individual has commenced employment as described in subparagraph (A)(ii). (ii) One-time payment exception In any case in which a State certifies to the Secretary that payments under subparagraph (A) cannot be implemented, due to administrative challenges, before the date that is 3 weeks after the date of enactment of this paragraph, such State may elect, in lieu of making the payments described in such subparagraph, to make a one-time lump sum payment to each individual described in clauses (i) and (ii) of such subparagraph in an amount equal to the product of $180 multiplied by the number of weeks in the individual’s benefit period. (D) Conditions of repayment In any case in which an individual who receives a payment under this paragraph after commencing employment voluntarily separates from such employment before the date that is 6 weeks after the date of such payment, such individual shall be ineligible for regular compensation and any unemployment benefits described in subsection (i)(2) until such time as the individual repays all payments received under this paragraph to the State agency, except that this subparagraph shall not apply if the individual voluntarily separated from employment for the purpose of— (i) quarantining due to a COVID-19 infection or recovering from a COVID-19 infection; (ii) caring for a relative who has contracted COVID-19 or a child whose school or day care center is closed because of COVID-19; or (iii) avoiding contraction of COVID-19 as a result of unsafe working conditions that violate OSHA health and safety regulations. (E) Special rule Payments made pursuant to an agreement under this paragraph shall not be considered to violate the withdrawal requirements of section 303(a)(5) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 503(a)(5) section 3304(a)(4) . (b) Conforming amendments Section 2104 of such Act is amended— (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking will make payments will, in addition to payments described in paragraph (4), make payments (2) in subsections (d) and (f), by inserting , payments under subsection (b)(4), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (3) in subsection (h), by inserting , and any payment under subsection (b)(4), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation

Summary: Strengthening Unemployment Programs to Provide Opportunities for Recovery and Training for New Workers Act or the SUPPORT for New Workers Act This bill provides weekly payments to individuals who forego Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation by finding work with a new employer. An eligible individual receives a weekly payment of $180 for each week that the individual remains employed with the new employer, up to a maximum of nine weeks. This bonus payment is only available for weeks of employment after the bill is enacted and prior to September 6, 2021. These payments, made by states under the bill, are subject to 100% federal reimbursement in the same manner as Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation payments.