Congress extends unemployment benefits

AP

Jarred by new jobless alarms, Congress raced to approve legislation Thursday to keep unemployment checks flowing through the December holidays and into the new year for a million or more laid-off Americans whose benefits are running out.

The legislation as approved would provide seven additional weeks of payments to people who have exhausted their benefits or will exhaust them soon. Those in states where the unemployment rate is above 6 percent would be entitled to an additional 13 weeks above the 26 weeks of regular benefits. Benefit checks average about $300 a week nationwide.

The extension of benefits lasting between 7-13 additional weeks has already been passed by the House and now only needs Bush's signature to make it official.

Seven weeks may not seem like much, but it's a godsend to those struggling to find work.

It is helpful for the unemployed, and it definately is not a cure.

What is needed is the creation of new jobs..and the elimination of companies sending jobs overseas, and selling off the backbone of US industry to overseas investors, and companies investing in overseas ventures.


Cheers!!!!!

It is good news, but there is something to be said for the vetting process that they have instituted.

They have integrated a sort of validation process for the any information that disagrees with prior claims and as a result, a claim can be postponed for months before being honored (with much hoop jumping).

Last year sucked for me in this regard...

Originally posted by MemoryShock
It is good news, but there is something to be said for the vetting process that they have instituted.

They have integrated a sort of validation process for the any information that disagrees with prior claims and as a result, a claim can be postponed for months before being honored (with much hoop jumping).

Last year sucked for me in this regard...

I'm not sure I'm following, MS...validation process of what sort?

After a partial layoff, then a full layoff, and now another partial layoff this year, I've had to deal with the unemployment folks quite a bit in the past 12 months. It's been a fairly painless process; I filled out the online form, got my paperwork in the mail, and the direct deposits hit my bank account without delay. When I found myself on partial layoff here recently, I just had to call up and reactivate my claim; granted I had to sit on hold for 45 minutes, but once it was my turn I was reactivated and off the phone in about 5 minutes.

I'm pretty happy to hear about this extension. I'm not getting a single nibble, and I've sent out at least a hundred resumes in the last 9 months.

Interesting...

I filed twice in the past two years and was met with a 'HomeLand Security' directive that necessitated my proving further (beyond what I normally gave) my identity with utility bills and address identification.

I spent one instance( about three months) waiting for unemployment until I regained employment (seasonal work). Then, I finally recieved retroactive payment, but this occurred one out of two years (no payment one year)...

The vetting process is what I am referring to; I work a seasonal job and they axed me inexplicably one year....

And everything was done to the letter, as I always do, and it changed for some reason. I am kind of anxious at the next time...two months from now...

reply to post by MemoryShock




I wonder if it's different by state??

The only thing I had to sign was the form for my direct deposits. They didn't even ask me for utility bills or any proof that I live in state (PA). Hell, the first employer is located out of state, so here I was filing in PA for an employer located in the South.
Literally, all I had to do was fill out online forms with my name, address, and my employer. They sent my employer a form, they signed off on my employment dates and salary, and 2 weeks after I filed I had my first check. The next payment was direct deposited after I filled out and signed a simple form with my bank info.

No runaround, no additional info needed, nothing.

That's really strange....

here in oregon, we have a 13 week extension, implemented as of....this summer i believe. i filed on tuesday, no problems.

memoryshock's ordeal has me a little worried now, because i just got laid off for three weeks. so if a change in memoryshock's reporting triggered that ordeal, then its possible im guessing that this change in my reporting of income could trigger something.

or maybe im just really paranoid.....

Perhaps it is by state; I am in California.

Still, I and a friend of mine experienced a lapse in immediate payment of benefits (that we both had in years previous) based on a 'Homeland Directive'.

I now wish I had kept the papers....

I'm about two months from doing it again...I'll keep and communicate the records this time...

Bush has signed the bill to extend unemployment.

Link

TPresident George W. Bush on Friday signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits, the White House said.

It gives seven more weeks of unemployment payments to workers who have exhausted their current jobless benefits. For those in states with the highest unemployment rates, an additional 20 weeks will be allowed.

A bit of good news in that it's some help for Main Street.

Current state-by-state unemployment rates for October are due out today at 10am. States with unemployment over 6% will extend benefits for 20 weeks, while states with rates below 6% will extend benefits for 7 weeks.
The update will be posted here upon release.

Could be considered good news I suppose.

Although I would rather see more money provided to companies who help people find new jobs. I'd rather see more incentive for people to find work, rather than to stay out of work. Although considering the economic circumstances right now, that is harder than in recent years.

A little help never hurt anybody, I just don't want to see things like this increase too much; or stay around too long.

It seems like with each passing day now, the government is giving us more and more and we are just taking and taking. It won't be long before we wake up and the government owns and controls everything we have and do.

Another band aid for the time being so People that are losing their jobs can have something for the holidays.

I wonder with the unemployment getting so bad lately if is such thing as the government running of funds to cover the benefits next year.

After all is not going to get any better next year as without new jobs ad new businesses how things will get better.

Originally posted by marg6043
Another band aid for the time being so People that are losing their jobs can have something for the holidays.

I wonder with the unemployment getting so bad lately if is such thing as the government running of funds to cover the benefits next year.

After all is not going to get any better next year as without new jobs ad new businesses how things will get better.

Naw . . . they can't run out of money . . . ink maybe, but until that well runs dry, they can print to their heart's content.

Not like there's a lack of precedence for the firing up of the old mimeograph in the basement of the Treasury Department, now is there . . .

Originally posted by anachryon
Bush has signed the bill to extend unemployment

States with unemployment over 6% will extend benefits for 20 weeks, while states with rates below 6% will extend benefits for 7 weeks.

my friend, here in SC (a high rate state)
used her 13 weeks, then used the 13 weeks made under the earlier extension.
she received the average $300

but now, she is eligible for only a $100. unemployment for the next 7 weeks, yet still has $700 still in her original 26week account.

I'm wondering if she can submit for the Federal extension payment rate,
or is the Federal extension for only $100wk.

(her new extension and rate was determined prior to the new Fed extension just signed into law by GWBush)

reply to post by anachryon

How do you get reactivated in Pennsylvania. I call that telephone number that PAT gives out but it is always busy!