800,000 in NYS file unemployment claims, an all-time record

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About 800 000 people in New York State applied for unemployment benefits this week, Gov.Andrew Cuomo said Friday, setting an all-time one week record. Nationwide, 6.6 million applied for such benefits. A total of 16 million people have applied for uninsurance benefits in the last three weeks, figures not seen since in such a short period of time since the Depression. Cuomo said some 1,000 state employees have been assigned to answer calls from people seeking benefits. He also said the state will spend $200 million in the next few weeks to provide food to low-income households.

Many people are still awaiting checks from the federal government, which has promised $1,200 to help citizens through the crises.