But the package may be enough to forestall the wave of evictions and small-business failures that many economists warn is inevitable without it. The relief package passed this week would extend two emergency programs that cover people who are left out of the regular unemployment system or whose benefits have expired. But if the bill doesn’t become law, the two programs will expire at the end of this week. Mr. Noel, 51, has reached the end of both his regular unemployment payments and the emergency pandemic benefits, leaving him with no income. The bill passed by Congress would restore his benefits for at least a few weeks, but now those are in doubt.

Source: New York Times December 23, 2020 22:30 UTC