Shortening Federal Unemployment Benefits Will Help Jobless in U.S.

Recoveries from most recessions since 1980 have taken place with unemployment compensation totaling 39 weeks to 52 weeks. Given the difficulties of getting new spending measures approved in straitened times, Congress would be well advised to adopt the 39-week standard for 2012, providing an extra 13 weeks of federal support beyond what states provide.

As matters stand, extended federal benefits are due to expire at the start of 2012. If nothing changes, jobless claimants next year will face a bare-boned 26 weeks of coverage under standard state benefits. That’s not enough, especially because laid off workers in some states will face even less. Florida and Michigan are among states that will shorten maximum benefits next year, in response to budget pressures.

By limiting benefits coverage to 39 weeks, the federal government would free many billions of dollars that could be used to more effectively put people back to work. We will spell out promising ways of doing so in a coming editorial.

americatheneedy wrote: Well this is good news. Just lose your unemployment benefits and poof and job will materialize. Why didn't I think of this earlier??? Gosh must be all those bons bons I've been eating while sitting on my lazy unemployed butt.