Out of work and unemployment benefits cut: ‘It’s really tough’

Cory McIntyre's job at Red Jeep Tours screeched to a halt in mid-March.

"Things were moving along just fine," he said. "We were getting ready to have one of our busiest months at work, and then the pandemic hit."

Like tens of millions of others, McIntyre has been collecting that $600 per week unemployment benefit. He said it would have been a challenge to juggle expenses without the extra federal relief.

"We have a house payment, insurance, cell phone, utilities," he said. "Didn't have to dip into our savings or our retirement, which was the goal that we wanted to not do."

But for him and others, all that could change after negotiations for the next round of coronavirus relief fell apart in Washington last week.

President Trump took executive action over the weekend, taking money from FEMA to offer an extra $400 in weekly unemployment benefits, with states to chip in $100 of that.

"Any interruption in income, whether it be from the government or from a job, that's tough. It's really tough," McIntyre said.

He said he's disappointed by the political gridlock in Washington that's played out. His benefits ran out nearly three weeks ago.

"It's almost like they've forgotten who they work for," McIntyre said. 'It's a shame that they can't get together and work things out." He said regardless of politics, he's glad the president stepped in.

"I'm glad that he finally said, 'We're at a place where nobody's doing anything – I'm going to do something.' My hope is that that would get congress to work together and actually be able to solve this problem."

McIntyre said he hopes Red Jeep Tours will be back in business in the next month or so.

Political opponents of the president are challenging the constitutionality of his executive action.