Obama proposes sweeping changes to unemployment benefits

The nation's unemployment benefits system would undergo extensive changes under the jobs proposal President Obama outlined Thursday.

Calling it "the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance system in 40 years," the administration wants to broaden the program beyond its core mission of sending checks to the jobless. The expanded goal: helping the jobless transition back to the workplace.

"We have to do more to help the long-term unemployed in their search for work," Obama said in his speech.

jmainframe wrote:I caught about 90% of Obama's speech last night. From the parts I heard, I didn't hear ANYTHING about 99ers or exhaustees. Obama is well aware that these terms refer to unemployed people who have exhausted all of their benefits. Unless he addressed this group in the parts of the speech I missed, there is nothing in this act to add weeks of benefits beyond the current limit of 99 weeks.

mistermunster wrote:This is a scam. Read the FINE print.

All this is predicated that YOU ARE still receiving UI benefits to be eligible.

1.Allow the long-term unemployed to continue receiving benefits while getting on-the-job training.

2.Allow companies to keep employees on the job at reduced hours, rather than laying them off. Unemployment benefits would be used to make up the lost wages.

3.Provide more rigorous services for helping long-term jobless reenter the workforce. Assess the eligibility of those in the system the longest and help them develop a job-search plan.

4.Use jobless benefits to pay the difference in salary if older, long-term unemployed Americans take a new job with lower wages.

5.Allow the long-term unemployed to use their checks to fund entrepreneurial ventures. Several states already offer this to the jobless, waiving their requirement that they look for work while collecting benefits.

WHAT A CROCK. Remember 99ers ARE NO LONGER IN THE SYSTEM and NOT counted. SO HOW is this going to work for the 99ers?????

woodhorse74 wrote:He mentioned long term unemployed. I believe that includes the 99'ers.
Why is everyone so negative?

peppermint wrote:He said the long-term to continue receiving benefits. If he meant the 99ers he would have said the long-term to resume receiving benefits.

mistermunster wrote:

jmainframe wrote:I caught about 90% of Obama's speech last night. From the parts I heard, I didn't hear ANYTHING about 99ers or exhaustees. Obama is well aware that these terms refer to unemployed people who have exhausted all of their benefits. Unless he addressed this group in the parts of the speech I missed, there is nothing in this act to add weeks of benefits beyond the current limit of 99 weeks.

And ANY program HE HAS proposed WILL ONLY BENEFIT those still collecting a UI check at this time. He SOLD us down the river. TO THEM WE DON'T EXIST. Yet WE are the ONES IN NEED.

zphtar wrote:I could be wrong, but sadly, I don't think they're going to give an extenstion to the 99ers. That would put them back into the unemployment count and make the unemployment percentage worse.

I know 99ers are hurting and need to feed their families NOW. However, he did mention a $4,000 tax credit if a company hires a long-term unemployed person. It's not a quick fix, but this is the only thing that could possibly benefit the 99ers. He didn't give enough details as to how long they would have to keep them on the payroll to collect the credit. I know these greedy companies, they will hire as long as it takes to get the credit and then fire the person. However, it could change the preception the employers have of the unemployed.

exhaustedandtired/1208 wrote:

woodhorse74 wrote:He mentioned long term unemployed. I believe that includes the 99'ers.
Why is everyone so negative?

Dear person: He considers the long term those after their 26 weeks. he doesn't recognise the 99er's. Last year in Dec. when he got the extensions renewed until dec 31st. he did not include the 99er's and yet he mentioned long term unemployed and how his heart feels for the long term unemployed... wow, the big betrayal: SS, medicare to the seniors, medicade all cuts and now unemployment: Yet you guys criticize the repubs. for all the blame and yet look what gurgles from his mouth! He is for Obama! He is a wolf is sheeps clothing! But some cannot see it!YET!!!

exhaustedandtired/1208 wrote:a wolf is still a wolf!