Explanation of the unemployment extension passed by the senate

"The typical unemployment benefits package before the current recession tended to last 26 weeks in most states.

The Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) included in the stimulus package created three tiers of additional coverage. Tier one typically lasts up to 20 weeks, Tier two typically lasts up to 14 weeks, Tier three typically lasts up to 13 weeks. For those who have exhausted a regular unemployment account and federal EUC, there is are also Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) which can run up to an additional 13 weeks. These numbers vary a bit from state-to-state, but the bottom line is that no one is able to get unemployment benefits longer than a total of 99 weeks.

The current jobs bill doesn't extend any of those tiers or add any additional coverage, such as a fourth or fifth tier.

What it does do is extend the deadlines for people to move from one tier to the next. Prior to the “phase out” period, if an applicant exhausts a tier of EUC benefits, he/she moves to the next tier. If he or she exhausts the third tier of EUC, he or she moves to Federal-State Extended Benefits. Under federal law, when the “phase out” period begins applicants will no longer be able to move from regular UI to the first tier of EUC or from one tier of EUC to the next.

Instead, if an applicant exhausts regular UI, or the first or second tier of EUC, he or she will move directly to Federal-State Extended benefits. The new legislation moves the beginning of the phase out period from April 5, 2010 to September 5, 2010. But by the end of 2010, everyone's extended benefits will have been exhausted, whether they have moved through all the tiers of coverage or not.

So the bottom line is that this isn't an unemployment "extension" as most cable news viewers would define it."

http://www.allyourtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=990&catid=990

Extended unemployment benefits deadline extended for 30 days

The deadline for enrolling for extended unemployment benefits has been extended for 30 days.

The Senate voted Tuesday night to pass a one month extension which will provide unemployment benefits as well as health care coverage through Cobra.
The House already passed the extension and President Obama signed it it Tuesday night.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/margin-1373340-bottom-style.html

This bill does not provide any additional weeks of benefits for those that have ran out or are soon to run out of benefits, this bill simply extends the deadline for qualifying for the extended benefits programs that were already in place. This bill only helps you if you happen to fall between benefit tiers within 30 days of February 28,2010.

As of now there is no verifiable information about an extension of benefits for the long term unemployed.

No help for the long term unemployed, possable help for the recently unemployed.

"Certain unemployment insurance benefits expired on February 28, 2010. Prior to expiration, an unemployed worker could receive up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits provided by the state in which they were employed. After the state-provided benefits were exhausted, the worker could qualify for 34 more weeks of benefits provided by the federal government. If that person was unemployed in a state with an unemployment rate above 6 percent, they qualified for an additional 13 weeks of benefits also provided by the federal government. Unemployed workers in states with an unemployment level over 8.5 percent qualified for an additional six weeks of benefits also provided by the federal government. In addition, the federal government paid 100 percent of the cost of state Extended Benefits programs which provided up to 13 additional weeks of benefits for unemployed workers who had exhausted regular state benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Last year’s economic recovery bill increased weekly unemployment benefits by an additional $25 per week.

This proposal extends these provisions, including increased unemployment benefits, retroactively to March 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. This proposal is estimated to cost $70 billion over ten years.

What this bill does is essentially extend the ability of people to collect the full set of unemployment extension tiers through the end of this year. It apparently does not create additional benefits for the long-term unemployed who have already exhausted their benefits.

A mixed bag. This bill will help many, but will leave many others without necessary aid."

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978076310&grpId=3659174697241980

4691 the 30 day deadline extension appears to be dead in the water, it has almost unanimous support from both republicans and democrats but so far there has been no mention of bringing the bill back to the senate floor. There was never an attempt for a closure vote on the bill.

Another year or fifteen days of unemployment benefits?

The 15 and 30 day extensions that are being spoke of in the press are not positioned to add more weeks of benefits, they are simply an extension of the expiration date of the current extensions. If you have already started/finished tiers 3 or 4, the 15 and 30 day extension bills will do nothing to help you. If you have yet to start tiers 2, 3 or 4*, the 15 and 30 day proposals will allow you additional time to apply for the next tier of benefits. A detailed explanation of the tiers can be found in previous posts here.

There is a lot of buzz about adding an additional year of benefits but so far no legislative language has been released, it is possible they this may mean a new tier of benefits for those completing tiers 3 and 4.


"During a visit to BizTech, a business incubation center in Butler County's seat, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said that senior Senate officials told him on a recent visit to Washington that more was to come - as soon as this week.

That could include an extension of unemployment benefits for another year, followed by the extension of current subsidies for COBRA health insurance payments for another 12 months and current Medicaid assistance by an additional six months, Strickland said."

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100224/BIZ01/2250360/Strickland++More+aid+to+jobless+on+way

*(states with an unemployment rate of at least 8.5% qualify for 6 weeks of benefits in tier 4)

Senate Finance Committee is looking at a 3 month extension

"The Senate Finance Committee is preparing a jobs bill that would combine job-creation tax credits for businesses with only a three-month extension of the expanded federal jobless benefits now slated to end later this month, sources familiar with the proceedings said today."

http://www.congressmatters.com/storyonly/2010/2/3/2085/-Benefits-on-the-Line-for-Millions-of-Unemployed


This could potentially be a true extension, but being that it is just now going to committee, if history is our teacher, do not expect a bill to pass until March which would mean no checks till April at the soonest.

Senate pushing for a 10 month unemployment extension

This is a letter sent today from 30 senators to the senate leader.


-------------------------------
Dear Majority Leader Reid and Chairman Baucus,

We are writing to urge an extension of unemployment benefits and eligibility for the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through December 31, 2010. As our nation continues to battle double digit unemployment rates, we must act right away to continue vital safety net coverage for the American family.

We appreciate your leadership in December in securing a two-month extension to both of these programs in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. But recent employment numbers are an indication that we must immediately extend jobless benefits and health assistance for individuals and families squeezed in this tighter economy. Nearly 40 percent of the unemployed – more than 6.1 million people – have been out of work for six months or longer. The average duration of unemployment is now at 29.1 weeks.

What is more, many of those individuals and their families lost their health coverage when they lost their jobs. On average, a monthly healthcare premium payment to cover a family costs $1,111, which represents 83.4% of the average unemployment check. In some states, the average unemployment check is less than the cost of a monthly healthcare plan premium.

Based on these figures, Congress must extend unemployment benefits and eligibility for the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through the end of the year. Short term extensions, while still helpful to families, only add strain to state agencies that must constantly re-tool their computer systems, and at the same time, continue to assist the millions still searching for work. As our economy continues on a path to recovery, we need a robust extension of safety net programs that have provided a lifeline to families since the recession began.

We urge quick action on the extension of the unemployment insurance provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through December 31, 2010, including the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, full federal funding of the Extended Benefit program, an increase of $25 per week in state and federal benefits, and the suspension of the federal income tax on an individual’s first $2,400 of unemployment benefits. In addition, we must also extend the eligibility period of the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through December 31, 2010.

Due to the importance of these issues, we respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss how we can provide for an extension of both programs. We thank you for your consideration of our request. All of our offices are committed to ensuring our constituents are able to properly provide for their families during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Bob Casey (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT)
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Roland W. Burris (D-IL)
Arlen Specter (D-PA)
John F. Kerry (D-MA)
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Edward E. Kaufman (D-DE)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Bernard Sanders (I-VT)
Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)

---------------------------------

At first glance this part ;[We urge quick action on the extension of the unemployment insurance provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through December 31, 2010, including the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program, full federal funding of the Extended Benefit program, an increase of $25 per week in state and federal benefits, and the suspension of the federal income tax on an individual’s first $2,400 of unemployment benefits. In addition, we must also extend the eligibility period of the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through December 31, 2010.]
makes it look as this simply another extension of the expiration dates of the current extensions, meaning that the long term unemployed who have already received tiers 1-3 and the state extended benefits will not be eligible for more weeks.

I will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Senate Jobs Bill On The Agenda Upon January 19 Return

"One aspect of the bill that may draw mixed feelings is that almost half of the funding in the new jobs bill will extend lifeline programs for the unemployed, which suggests there could be more unemployment extensions on the way, but the specifics have yet to hashed out."



Still no details but the media is picking up on it.


http://www.rwbpress.com/2010/01/09/senate-jobs-bill-on-the-agenda-upon-january-19-return-will-unemployment-benefits-get-extension-jobs-created/