Some people making more money on unemployment benefits than at job

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Thirty million people have lost their jobs in the last six weeks, but a lot of those people are actually collecting more money on unemployment.

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“If you’re making $23 an hour on unemployment, it’s going to be hard to get you to go back to a $17 an hour job,” said U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

The $2.2 trillion stimulus package added $600 a week to unemployment checks. That means for some people, staying home has been like getting a raise.

>> In the video at the top of the page, Channel 9′s Greg Suskin explains the big impacts this is now having on their former employers.

So the big question for you is, “What if you have a chance to go back to work, but you’re making more on unemployment?”

Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke says you can stay on unemployment, but it’s a risk.

If your boss gives you your job back, and you say “no,” you could lose unemployment and be left with neither.

Even if you stay on unemployment, remember you stop getting that $600 each week at the end of July so in a few months, your so-called raise may turn into a pay cut.

Action 9: Unemployment benefit options Action 9: Unemployment benefit options

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