Ky Gov Andy Beshear Not Cutting Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

Gov.Beshear not ready to stop Unemplyment Requirement

The governor of Kentucky says he isn't ready to cut off pandemic unemployment programs just yet.

But Gov. Andy Beshear said in his own COVID-19 update that doing so in Kentucky would be a "shock to the system" and would "threaten our recovery."

He said although he said the benefits, like the extra $300 a week, cannot and should not continue forever, it is helping the state rebound.

"Immediate termination of those extra benefits would hurt our economy, restaurant groups and others," he said.

According to him, that PUA money is putting $34 million into the economy each week through groceries, retail and more.

Beshear said the state will take a strategic approach to get every benefit from those dollars to the state's economy, while making it sustainable.

He did not provide a timeline on when they could come to an end.

Kentucky is facing many of the same challenges as other states -- trouble getting jobs filled.

But Beshear said part of the reason some are still on unemployment is that vaccine eligibility is still new for some, others face issues like childcare, and to him, the time is just not right.