In response to massive, rapid job loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress in 2020 passed the most expansive set of temporary unemployment benefits in our nation’s history. These steps were necessary largely because the permanent unemployment insurance (UI) system doesn’t cover many unemployed workers and often provides inadequate benefits. The temporary pandemic unemployment programs significantly increased the coverage, duration, and adequacy of unemployment benefits compared to regular UI, substantially reducing hardship and providing important economic stabilization and impetus for