The state is trying to get a system up and running to provide an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits to people – but the technical hurdles are proving difficult to clear. 

When the federal government failed to extend the extra $600 a week in benefits, a workaround was presented to states by creating FEMA grants that could be used to add dollars onto unemployment checks. The process is proving cumbersome with the current computer and automation systems Illinois’ unemployment office is using says Governor JB Pritzker.

There does not appear to be a clear timeline to get the extra money going out and now the feds say each state will be only promised enough funding to cover three weeks of increased payments.