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* > Employees who haven’t been assigned to critical tasks and who can’t work from home will be furloughed without pay, though they will keep health-care benefits.*

Sounds like a 100% cut for most folks, less whatever inadequacy our unemployment insurance system pays out.

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It now pays up to $1050 per week up to 26 weeks, plus the stimulus check of up to $1200. I wouldn't call that inadequate, especially considering that you don't have to work or even look for work.

For low paid workers, the federal unemployment stimulus can actually make their unemployment checks larger than their normal take home pay.

Only on HN is $54k/year considered "low paid".

The US median income is $31k. $1050/week is an enormous pay raise for well over half of the working population.

Those are two separate paragraphs. Low paid workers don't get $1050 per week, it scales based on income. But the minimum is $600.

Does unemployment insurance even pay out if you've been furloughed without pay, but still technically have a job?

In the US generally speaking yes.

Yes, it can sometimes even pay out if you are furloughed with pay.

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