Experts: Amount of money given to millions of jobless Americans will vary widely

Experts are trying to guide millions of people left unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

News 12 Staff

Mar 27, 2020, 11:22 PM

Updated 1,653 days ago

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Experts are trying to guide millions of people left unemployed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, more than 3 million Americans filed for unemployment amid the growing pandemic.
MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond 
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Employment lawyer Jay Ashaguii says while most qualify for unemployment, they are usually given a percentage of their salary.

He says those making $50,000 a year will qualify for maximum unemployment insurance and will probably make about $415 a week for six months.

Restaurant workers like waiters, waitresses and bartenders have been hit especially hard even though they do qualify for state unemployment insurance.

"Their wages are actually less than the standard of minimum wage in New York," Ashaguii says.

He says barbers also qualify for unemployment benefits.

Substitute teachers, freelancers and others may not qualify for benefits unless they make minimum wages and work less than four days a week.

"They probably wouldn't qualify because they make more than what New York allows for," Ashaguii says.

He says they would still qualify for federal benefits that will provide them $600 a week until the end of July.
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