Question About the Tiers in CA with The Latest--Till Feb...

My question involves that last tier which in California is called the "Fed Ed Extension." It is for 20 weeks.

In CA, we have four separate Tiers and then the "Fed Ed Extension" completes the 99 weeks as scheduled.

In mid February, I will complete the four tiers and am wondering if I will be able to start the "Fed Ed" as scheduled presently with this new Bill that Congress approved today stating that the extensions would go through February? Anyone know?

UI Claims Maximum Weeks of Benefits Provided Deadline for Starting This Type of UI Claim
Regular UI Claim Up to 26 weeks of benefits Once someone becomes unemployed
1st Tier of Federal Extension Up to 20 weeks of benefits December 25, 2011
2nd Tier of Federal Extension Up to 14 weeks of benefits January 1, 2012
3rd Tier of Federal Extension Up to 13 weeks of benefits January 1, 2012
4th Tier of Federal Extension Up to 6 weeks of benefits January 1, 2012
Separate FED-ED Extension Up to 20 weeks of benefits January 1, 2012
POTENTIAL TOTAL MAXIMUM BENEFITS Up to 99 weeks of benefits

Thank you!

There are only 14 (or less now) states that pay EB when federal extensions expire. I am not sure about CA, but you may want to check with them to see if that program will continue if benefits are cut off in February.

They pay it now and it depends upon where and how low or high the unemployment rate is...

Thanks!

Marian wrote:They pay it now and it depends upon where and how low or high the unemployment rate is...

Thanks!

Yes, they pay it now because the federal extension program is still in place. If that ends (or lapses) in February, most states immediately stop paying EB. I believe CA is one of those states, please double check. This happened twice in 2010, hopefully another member from CA can clarify!

Thanks! It's so confusing!

I'm a little confused as well.......I thought EB continued in states with a Unemployment rate over 10%..have to check...Cali is currently at 11.3 %

My last week to collect Tier 1 is Sat. Feb. 25th....If I file for tier 2 by Feb. 29th(new deadline) I believe I can max that 2nd tier out if I don't have a gig by then. I'm confused too. I'm gonna wait til the House vote comes in next week(prob. Monday), then pray I can get through to The EDD on the phone next week to clarify all this.

No, only 14 (or less) states continue EB when federal unemployment extensions expire or lapse regardless of the unemployment rate. Hopefully an "exhaustee" who went through this twice in 2010, in June/July and December can let you know if California is a state that will continue paying. It seems like this battle has been going on forever, and I can't remember if California residents continued to receive EB when EUC lapsed.

I'll call next week on EB, but I'm think I'm right about my tier 2 being able to be filed by Feb. 29th if my last ending day is Sat. Feb.25th on tier 1.

Sammy wrote:I'll call next week on EB, but I'm think I'm right about my tier 2 being able to be filed by Feb. 29th if my last ending day is Sat. Feb.25th on tier 1.

Once the House approves the two month extension early next week, I hope, the dates should be in the bill of the last day to file a claim on another tier. Good luck!

As I said, I have been in this for a long time and they always wait till the last minute and three times in three years they have let benefits lapse while they played political games. In 2009, my benefits lapsed from September until mid-November when Tiers 3 and 4 were implemented. "Back then", you received state EB after tier 2. No one even imagined this could drag on as long as it has.

I wish you all the best!

i was put on fed ed before tier 4 last year at this time when the filing dates hadn't been extended, ca edd was moving anyone who missed the cutoff directly to fed ed. i just collected my last fed ed payment last week ( i had to reopen my extension 6 months later) and i got notification stating another extension which i am assuming is tier 4 will be automatically filed if i qualify. so regardless of the cutoff date, everyone was moved to fed ed. if they do the same thing this year and ca stays at the fed ed level, they will hopefully put you on fed ed as well. hope that helps!

I had a link, but can't find it now. It said Feb. 29th was when the deadlines were. I post it up when I find it.

Thanks amyh! That helps!

This is so confusing and a bit scary!