House Republicans' CLOSE Act Would End Pandemic Unemployment Benefits, Claw Back Unused Funds
Also known as: CLOSE Act
Legislative Progress
Impacts
Key Points
- Congress would end remaining pandemic-related unemployment benefit payments 30 days after the bill becomes law.
- It would also take back (rescind) any unspent federal money that was set aside for these pandemic unemployment programs.
- States could still get federal money to cover wrap-up and administrative costs, even after benefit payments stop.
- States would be blocked from starting or restarting agreements to pay the extra federal pandemic unemployment benefits after the bill becomes law.
- People who still qualify under these old pandemic programs could see their payments stop once the 30-day cutoff hits, depending on timing.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Introduced in House
What Happens Next
Projected impacts based on AI analysis
30-day countdown starts if the CLOSE Act is enacted
People who are depending on CARES unemployment programs would have a hard cutoff coming soon, so they may need to switch to regular state unemployment (if eligible) or find other help.
CARES Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payment authority ends (except limited admin funding)
After the cutoff, the federal government could not send new PUA benefit payments under the CARES section, even if a claim is approved later.
CARES Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation / Mixed Earner payment authority ends (except limited admin funding)
After the cutoff, the extra federal add-on payments under this CARES section could not be paid, and states cannot newly sign up again for this program on or after enactment.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation CARES provisions are repealed and take effect
The CARES extension-related rules named in the bill would no longer be in place, reducing the chance of late or renewed payments tied to those sections.
Unspent CARES unemployment funds are officially canceled (rescinded)
Leftover federal money set aside for these CARES unemployment programs would be pulled back and unavailable for future benefit payments, which can limit options for paying late claims or corrections.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
CLOSE Act
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(3)Data Sources
Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.