COVID , CARES Act and Relief Checks in US – Threatened by old technology and a rocky government rollout

Hampered by antiquated software, unfilled leadership positions and the sheer complexity of distributing hundreds of billions of dollars across the United States, the federal government is failing to get emergency stimulus money to millions of households and small businesses. The Post reported that three weeks after Congress passed a $2.2 trillion aid package, its small-business loan program has run out of money; self-employed and gig workers have received almost none of the unemployment aid they were promised; and many Americans have no idea where their stimulus payments went.

The national effort to get coronavirus relief money to Americans is at risk of being overwhelmed by the worst economic downturn in 80 years, as understaffed and underfunded agencies struggle to deliver funds.Three weeks after Congress passed a $2 trillion package to lessen the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of households and small businesses are still waiting to receive all the help promised under the legislation, according to government data and firsthand accounts.The bulk of the challenges have occurred with three initiatives designed to get cash to struggling Americans: $1,200 per adult relief payments that launched this week, $349 billion in Small Business Administration loans, and $260 billion in unemployment benefits for the more than 22 million people — and growing — out of work.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story @ Stimulus checks and other coronavirus relief threatened by old technology and a rocky government rollout – The Washington Post