Jobless Aid Cutoff Lawsuits Go On After Federal Programs’ End

Lawsuits contesting states’ early shutoff of enhanced federal jobless aid are likely to stretch into 2022, months after the federal programs expired nationwide—potentially testing the duration of a federal offer to fund the benefits retroactively.

On the line are unpaid unemployment benefits estimated to exceed $2 billion across a half dozen or more states.

Appellate rulings are awaited in Arkansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma, while cases are still ongoing at the trial court level in Tennessee and Texas. Those suing over Florida’s early termination have said an appeal of a trial judge’s decision is forthcoming, though no notice has been ...