Update: Pandemic unemployment benefits in Maryland will not expire today, after a Baltimore judge issued a temporary restraining order, halting Gov. Larry Hogan’s decision to end the enhanced benefits early. Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill ruled that unemployed plaintiffs in two separate cases against the governor would “suffer immediate, substantial, and irreparable harm” if the benefits were canceled before a full hearing on the cases could be held.

Fletcher-Hill found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in one of their arguments against Hogan — that Maryland law requires state officials to “maximize use of any available federal unemployment benefits.”

Hogan reacted to the decision on social media. “Even President Biden has said that states have every right to do what’s best for our economies. I’m confident the courts will rule in favor of getting Marylanders back to work, supporting struggling small businesses, and continuing our economic recovery,” the Republican governor wrote.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland (D) applauded the court ruling. “The Governor’s decision to abruptly cut off unemployment benefits put many struggling families at risk of financial ruin. Not only did it thrust thousands of Maryland families into unnecessary uncertainty, it would also reduce the strength of our economic recovery by needlessly forfeiting over a billion dollars in federal resources that would have been spent purchasing goods and services at Maryland businesses.”

The judge issued the order this morning, after a hearing on Friday. The restraining order expires on July 13, unless the judge extends it.

Original story: Unemployed workers in Maryland are suing Gov. Larry Hogan over his decision to end federal pandemic unemployment benefits early.

Hogan, a Republican, plans to cut off the increased assistance on July 3. Congress authorized the benefits, which includes an extra $300 per week payment to people who are jobless, until early September. 

The Unemployed Workers Union, an advocacy group in Baltimore, filed the class-action lawsuit Thursday in Baltimore City Circuit Court. The group wants a judge to prevent Hogan from ending the benefits before they are scheduled to expire. 

Alec Summerfield, an attorney representing the six workers who are suing, said eliminating the extra help will make it extraordinarily difficult for people to survive. 

“People’s cars are being repossessed. People’s houses are being foreclosed upon,” he said. “This $300, for many, is the only way for people to put food on the table.” 

A spokesperson for Hogan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The workers also want a judge to require the Maryland Department of Labor to process unemployment insurance claims in a timely fashion — people filing claims have experienced long delays in receiving their benefits, leading lawmakers to introduce several bills intended to address inefficiencies in the system. They also want the state to provide benefits to people who filed claims but have not received any assistance.

Earlier this month, Hogan said ending the payments early will help businesses across the state that are facing severe worker shortages. 

“While these federal programs provided important temporary relief, vaccines and jobs are now in good supply,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to getting more Marylanders back to work.”

But Summerfield said Hogan is trying to force people into low-paying jobs.  

“You’re not getting the economy back going by taking away the small purchasing power and this lifeline people do have,” he said. “That’s not getting the economy going, that’s trying to pay people less.” 

At least two dozen other states have announced plans to end the federal payments authorized by the American Rescue Plan early. D.C. and Virginia have kept the extra aid. 

Maryland also plans to reinstate the requirements for unemployment assistance that it waived at the beginning of the pandemic. People applying for aid will need to show they are trying to find employment. 

The state has distributed more than $12 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 730,000 people since March 2020, according to Hogan’s office. 

The state said earlier this month it had resolved more than 97% of unemployment claims. But people applying for assistance say the process for filing claims is riddled with delays.

Jacob Fenston contributed reporting to this story.