AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN EXPANDS COVERAGE, PROVIDES LOWER MONTHLY PREMIUMS TO MANY PREVIOUSLY INELIGIBLE

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law in March 2021, delivers new and expanded subsidies to millions of Americans—and hundreds of thousands of people in Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Health Connector—to help lower the cost of their health insurance. The financial help available to help pay for insurance through the Affordable Care Act has been increased, which means most people who already get help paying for insurance will get more support, and many people who used to not qualify for help will now see lower monthly premiums.

If you need health insurance, apply today at www.MAhealthconnector.org

SELF-EMPLOYED AND GIG WORKERS - NEW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT

The MEUC program, which is a part of the Continued Assistance Act, was created to assist workers who qualified for traditional unemployment, but also had income from self-employment or gig work that is not included in the calculation of their regular unemployment benefits.

MEUC applies only to traditional unemployment claimants. Claimants who receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) are ineligible for MEUC.MEUC provides an additional $100 weekly benefit to eligible claimants. Payments will not begin until the DUA reviews the applicants supporting documentation and will be retroactive. Eligible MEUC applicants that are paid at least $1 of their underlying unemployment benefit amount for any week of unemployment will also receive a $100 supplemental MEUC payment. This is provided in addition to the $300 FPUC payment.

For more information, please visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mixed-earners-unemployment-compensation-meuc

Two Malden Cultural Organizations Awarded a Total of $5000

I'm proud to announce that Jean Appolon Expressions, Inc. and Monkeyhouse, Inc. of Malden have been awarded $2,500 each from the Mass. Cultural Council Cultural Investment Portfolio Program to support public programming that supports access, excellence, diversity, or education in the arts, humanities, or sciences.