It seems there is some confusion about the latest rounds of extensions this week coming from Congress. What Congress is doing this week only extends the filing dates available for those seeking the existing Tiers and EB program. This is great news for someone laid off in 2009 or this year, but for the worker laid off in 2008 or earlier on their last tier - this is very upsetting.
To restate this. 99 weeks is still the maximum benefit amount.
Will this change? If we ask Congress specifically for it, perhaps.
There is a void out there of information. Major news outlets are reporting this as an extension (which it is) - but it is more a change of enrollment dates for persons who lost their jobs within the past year.
Even unemployedworkers.org is not being clear to the public about what this action this week in Congress means for the unemployed.
Other blogs and comment sections are posting opinions and what a senator may have said off the record by telephone. But the fact remains that Congress will soon take a break in April. If extensions for the long-term unemployed are not granted before this break, it could be up to two months before the Senate even presents a bill that helps the long-term unemployed.
US Unemployed is gathering more information to see if a bill to add a tier has even been introduced. If anyone out there has any information, please post it in comments.
Keep contacting your representative and ask specifically for an additional tier of unemployment benefits.
Showing posts with label March Congress Extension. Show all posts
Showing posts with label March Congress Extension. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Monday, March 01, 2010
Sen. Jon Kyl Says Congress Will Pass Extended Jobless Benefits
Congress will pass legislation aimed at keeping certain jobless benefits, highway and transit money and other government programs funded, Sen. Jon Kyl, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, said Sunday.
But the approval was highly unlikely to come before this morning. Several programs were to expire at midnight Sunday, and Congress has failed to extend them because of an objection by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky. Bunning wants the $10 billion price offset by budget reductions.
The Senate is not expected to act until Tuesday at the earliest, which means as of this morning, certain extended jobless benefits will not be available. Neither will some highway or transit funds, small-business loans or help for newly laid-off workers for their insurance premiums.
Kyl, though, told Fox News Sunday flatly, "It will pass."
The Arizona senator also sympathized with Bunning. Recently, Congress adopted "pay as you go" rules requiring that, in many cases, new programs must be paid for. So why, Bunning asked, if these extensions are so popular, can't Congress find the money to fund them?
Democrats continued to express anger.
"Because of one senator's irresponsible actions, over 61,000 Michigan workers will begin losing their unemployment benefits on Monday," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
Most people already getting extra jobless benefits are unlikely to be affected. Those who will feel the impact could include people who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits and qualify for more aid under federal guidelines.
Source Story
But the approval was highly unlikely to come before this morning. Several programs were to expire at midnight Sunday, and Congress has failed to extend them because of an objection by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky. Bunning wants the $10 billion price offset by budget reductions.
The Senate is not expected to act until Tuesday at the earliest, which means as of this morning, certain extended jobless benefits will not be available. Neither will some highway or transit funds, small-business loans or help for newly laid-off workers for their insurance premiums.
Kyl, though, told Fox News Sunday flatly, "It will pass."
The Arizona senator also sympathized with Bunning. Recently, Congress adopted "pay as you go" rules requiring that, in many cases, new programs must be paid for. So why, Bunning asked, if these extensions are so popular, can't Congress find the money to fund them?
Democrats continued to express anger.
"Because of one senator's irresponsible actions, over 61,000 Michigan workers will begin losing their unemployment benefits on Monday," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
Most people already getting extra jobless benefits are unlikely to be affected. Those who will feel the impact could include people who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state benefits and qualify for more aid under federal guidelines.
Source Story
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