Alabama is giving the axe to all the federal pandemic unemployment compensation programs, including the additional $300 federal unemployment benefit.
Gov. Kay Ivey said she believes the increased unemployment assistance intended to bring emergency relief during the pandemic is now contributing to a labor shortage.
Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said the state has also reinstituted the work search requirement for regular unemployment benefits.
“[It] was temporary waived during the height of the pandemic," he said. "This requires all claimants to actively searching for work to be remain eligible for unemployment benefits.”
Cutting the benefits is popular with conservative groups but disputed by some advocates for low-income families. Arkansas, Montana and South Carolina are also planning to stop accepting the $300 benefit.