Nearly half of Americans who lost job to pandemic can't last a month on savings

Nearly half of all Americans who lost a job during the coronavirus pandemic are strapped for cash, with little money in savings for emergencies.

That's according to a new study published by SimplyWise, a technology company that provides resources on Social Security and retirement, which found that 45% of workers who are furloughed or unemployed because of the COVID-19 crisis could not last a month off their savings. More than one-quarter – 26% – said they could not last two weeks off their savings.

JOB GROWTH OVER NEXT DECADE EXPECTED TO BE SLOWER THAN AFTER 2008 CRISIS

Forty-two percent of Americans said they could not come up with $500 in cash right now without taking out a loan or selling something. That's up from the 38% recorded in May and 40% in July, the bimonthly survey showed. For workers furloughed or let go because of the pandemic, 63% said they could not come up with $500 in case of emergency.

As a result, more Americans are planning to tap their retirement savings: 14% said they will have to withdraw money from those accounts. A record 27% of respondents said they are planning an early withdrawal from their 401(k). The figure is even higher among people who lost their jobs this year at 49%.

The sobering statistics come more than a month after a series of financial protections Congress put in place with the passage of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act expired.

WHITE HOUSE EYEING MORE EXECUCTIVE ACTIONS AS HOPES FOR STIMULUS DEAL FADE

President Trump signed four executive measures at the beginning of August to replace some of the just-expired benefits, including partially restoring federal unemployment benefits at $300 per week. But states will only issue up to six weeks of payments to eligible workers, a spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is distributing the aid, said last week. In Arizona, the extra $300 a week has already come to an end.

Congress appears increasingly unlikely to pass another round of emergency relief before the Nov. 3 election, although Trump has reportedly considered issuing another series of executive measures, including extending jobless aid.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

When the sweetened aid ends, the typical unemployment check will return to an average of $330 per week for most Americans.

Thirty percent of Americans saved nothing for retirement in the last year, while 56% saved less than $1,000. Only 44% saved more than $1,000.

The pandemic, which triggered an unprecedented shutdown of the nation's economy, caused the worst unemployment crisis since the Great Depression. Although the labor market has mounted a slow-but-steady recovery – the joblessness rate fell to 8.4% in August after employers hired 1.4 million workers – there remain 11.5 million more out-of-work Americans compared with February.

The study of 1,154 Americans was conducted between Sept. 8-10.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE