Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir). | Courtesy Photo
Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir). | Courtesy Photo
The slow pace of North Carolina residents receiving unemployment compensation was among the issues discussed this week by the House Committee on COVID-19 Economic Support Working Group.
“Your government is not working quickly enough to put unemployment benefits in your pocket, and people need [the] information to plan accordingly,” Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir), a member of the Working Group, said in an April 14 post on his Facebook page. “Self-employed contractors are even more frustrated because the Governor's unemployment office says federal unemployment benefits cannot be applied for until April 25th. This is unacceptable.”
The Working Group requested an update from the governor’s office about the processing of unemployment claims. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce website, there have been more than half a million unemployment claims filed since mid-March.
In addition to unemployment compensation, many are still waiting to receive stimulus money from the federal government.
The Carolina Journal reported that the Working Group discussed legislation that would add $25 million in emergency loans for small businesses. The additional funding to the emergency lending would enable 500 small businesses to each receive a $50,000 bridge loan. Small business owners would be able to access these loans as they wait to obtain financial help from the Small Business Administration.
The Working Group also drafted legislative language that would waive interest payments on taxes filed through the new filing deadline of July 15.
“Similar waivers were passed for sales tax payments and penalties,” Humphrey wrote in a Facebook post. “The drafts must be voted on by both the NC House and NC Senate when session convenes later this month.”
Under the group’s draft legislation, interest would be waived on individual income, corporate income, franchise, partnership, estate and trust tax returns. Estimated tax payments that would have been due on April 15 would also be relieved from interest.
Alerts Sign-up