Guide for Unemployment Extension

By Jack Dawsons


Unemployment extension is a US federal program to extend benefits for the long term unemployed. It is a topic of heated debate, discussion and wrangling between Republicans and Democrats, particularly within the context of the present economic situation and high unemployment rates. Some commentators take into consideration that unemployment extensions develop a dependency culture and are a disincentive for people to seek new work. On the other side of the debate, other people recognize the importance of having a societal safety net, specifically in these difficult economic times where lots of workers lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Individual states have various unemployment rates but across the US the extensions are managed by way of a series of 4 different tiers of extended benefits. An unemployed person who can not find a job moves by way of these tiers, i.e. moving from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and 3 to 4, receiving extended positive aspects before the unemployment revenue is ended.

Unemployment Extensions Update

The newest extension of unemployment advantages was signed into law in July 2010 and supplies 73 weeks of extended compensation and is estimated to cost $34 billion. The extension will aid approximately 2.5 million individuals who lost their unemployment benefits in June, when the last extension expired. Even so if a claimant has already received 99 weeks of unemployment insurance coverage compensation beneath the Emergency Unemployment Compensation system (a group occasionally known as the '99ers') they will not be eligible for further rewards. In other words advantages still remain capped at 99 weeks. There's also discussion of a fifth tier of unemployment advantages (Tier 5) in addition to the existing four tiers (Tiers 1-4).

*Unemployment benefits extension explained *Most states pay up to 26 weeks of benefit. *The compensation is normally calculated as half earnings with a maximum cap. *Unemployment extension is a federal program that extends the length of time an unemployed person receives benefits. *There are certain situations and circumstances that will disqualify an unemployed person from receiving benefits. These vary from state to state and may include the following: Leaving a job position voluntarily, being fired for poor behavior or misconduct, being involved in a labor dispute or self-employment. *Many states will review the reasons behind the job loss and periodically review that the conditions of the benefit are being met. *It generally takes two weeks before unemployment benefits start. *People receiving benefit are normally required to confirm that they are able and available for work. *An extension of unemployment benefits is normally not applicable to applicants who have already received 99 weeks of unemployment insurance compensation




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