Extended Benefits – July 15, 2010
- Currently, if you are receiving a one of the tiers of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), you will be able to receive these payments until your current tier expires.
- Once your current tier of EUC is finished, or if you have already received all of the benefits possible under EUC, you may be eligible for joint state / federal Extended Benefits (EB).
- There are currently 12 states offering Extended Benefits:
- Alaska – 20 weeks
- Connecticut – 20 weeks
- Kansas – 13 weeks
- Minnesota – 13 weeks
- New Hampshire – 13 weeks
- New Jersey – 20 weeks
- New Mexico – 20 weeks
- North Carolina – 20 weeks
- Oregon – 20 weeks
- Puerto Rico – 13 weeks
- Rhode Island – 20 weeks
- Washington – 20 weeks
These figures for Extended Benefits are updated weekly, and are based on state-specific criteria, including the unemployment rate in your state.
640,000 Americans will run out of unemployment insurance by the end of September. By the end of 2009, it is estimated that an additional 1.5 million people will exhaust their benefits.
From an economic standpoint, studies show that every dollar of unemployment benefits result in over $2 of economic activity. By this argument, the government should extend benefits to help stimulate the economy.
If Congress passes an additional extension of benefits, it would be funded by the Federal government. In other words, taxpayer dollars (as opposed to employer payroll taxes) would be the source of these new payments.
Alternatives to an extension include government job creation, tax rebates, or funding of career training programs.
What do you think? Should Congress vote to extend unemployment benefits?
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
When filing for unemployment benefits, everyone is not treated equally. The application process, your level of payments, and the options to receive extended benefits all depend upon what state you live in. Here are the key elements of unemployment insurance that differ by state:
- Length of Benefits
- Maximum Weekly Payment
- Eligibility Requirements
- Unemployment for Part-Time Workers
- Additional Benefits for Workers With Dependants
For an interactive map to help you determine what to expect in your state, see The Boundaries of Unemployment – Patchwork Benefits from The Wall Street Journal.
