US Department of Labor announces $2.2 million grant to assist unemployed North Carolinians with health insurance payments

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2.2 million National Emergency Grant supplemental award to provide an estimated 2,400 unemployed individuals in North Carolina with partial premium payments for health insurance coverage. The announcement bolsters an initial award of $2 million made by the Labor Department to the Tar Heel State on Aug. 11, 2009. Those funds were used to serve about 1,800 unemployed North Carolinians who were eligible to participate in the Health Coverage Tax Credit program.

"For working families, the loss of a job is difficult enough. But the adverse impact can be compounded severely by a loss of health insurance," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These additional funds will help North Carolinians continue their families' health coverage as they seek new employment and get back on their feet."

The supplemental funds, awarded today to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment and Training, will allow North Carolina to make "gap filler" payments for unemployed individuals who are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits and are eligible for the HCTC program. Under this program, eligible individuals can receive assistance with 80 percent of premium costs for qualified health insurance programs. This award brings the total number of individuals that will be served under this grant to about 4,200.

This grant will be funded by resources made available for National Emergency Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.doleta.gov/NEG/.