Thanks to the CARES Act enacted in March, 30 million unemployed workers claimed unemployment benefits that were more generous than they normally would have received, including nearly 11 million would have received no benefits at all.

If policymakers don’t act to extend them, however, the boost in benefits levels will expire on July 31 and its eligibility expansions and additional weeks of benefits will expire on December 31, while the support unemployed workers and the economy need will remain substantial.

While millions of unemployed workers have been helped by the expanded benefit measures, many eligible claimants have experienced difficulties in filing and delays in receiving their benefits due to the massive increase in claims since mid-March.

People already facing barriers to opportunity, including Black and Latino workers and those without a bachelor’s degree, were hit hardest by the massive April job losses.

Unless Congress acts, unemployed workers will lose assistance while high unemployment persists.