FOR MILLIONS OF American families, 2020 was a year of economic struggle. As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered businesses across the nation last spring, the unemployment rate surged to the highest level seen since the Great Depression. Those who remained on the job weren't necessarily spared hardship as many had hours reduced, leaving them with less money to pay the bills.
While Congress authorized expanded unemployment payments in the spring, more than 10 million workers are poised to lose those benefits unless new legislation is passed by Christmas. For these people, and others who are struggling to make ends meet, now might be the time to look into public assistance programs for help.
