Important: Federal Unemployment Benefits to Phase Out

The days of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits are numbered.

President Obama signed today a bill that will extend federal unemployment benefits, which were set to expire at the end of this month, through the end of this year. But the law, combined with falling unemployment rates, will reduce the maximum duration of benefits to 73 weeks from 99 by year's end.

Marian wrote:So, if you go onto EB after the six weeks of Tier Four and it expires due to slashing (you have not reached 20 weeks), will you then be able to have the additional 10 weeks of Tier Four or will they extend Tier Four now (that is if you are about to end it now to go onto EB) and then go onto EB?

*For new tier transition only. The benefits for the tier you are currently exhausting prior to September 2 are not affected.

Sick & Tired wrote:So it looks like if you are still going through the tiers you get an extra 4 weeks?? Good way to hide the REAL unemployment rate or what? What about the people who have suffered the longest AFTER exhausting?

Oh lord, although I am happy for those this might help this is extremely upsetting. whats 4 weeks going to do and what about the people who have been literally suffering dangling by a thread with no more benefits and still no job?

States typically provide 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. But four years ago, as the economy began taking a nose dive, Congress began providing additional federal support to pay for more weeks of unemployment insurance after state benefits run out. Since then, it’s reauthorized versions of two federal UI programs — the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program and the Extended Benefits program — on 10 separate occasions, according to George Wentworth, a staff attorney for the National Employment Law Project. The most recent extension happened in February as part of the bipartisan deal on payroll tax cuts.

But now both of those federal programs are scheduled to phase out, as NELP explains in a new analysis paper. As of July 1, anyone who has lost their job won’t benefit from the additional weeks of federal unemployment insurance if they still haven’t found a job by Dec. 31 — when their 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits run out.

fosterpants wrote:Have not been on forum in a very long time..but thought this might help explain new legislation.


The new legislation, enacted February 22, 2012, applies to weeks beginning March 4, 2012 - ending January 5, 2013. The legislation extends eligibility/expiration dates. The old Feb 25/Mar 3 dates no longer apply. Ignore outdated information on state websites.

1. Can I still collect federal benefits under this latest federal legislation?

Eligibility dates have been extended to the end of 2012. If state benefits are exhausted not later than December 22, 2012, or EUC Tier benefits not later than December 29, 2012, you are eligible to move to the next EUC tier and/or Extended Benefits (EB). Once transitioned to a tier, that tier's benefits can be exhausted in its entirety past the expiration date of January 2, 2013, but not later than June 30, 2013. EB payments end as per below. After October 13, it is estimated no state will be paying EB (Extended Benefits).

2. Relevant Federal Eligibility Dates:

December 22, 2012- Exhaust state benefits to transition to Tier 1
December 29, 2012 - Exhaust one Tier to transition to next Tier
April 7 - October 13, 2012 - EB Payments cease, depending on state, regardless of balance remaining - See EB info and NELP Projected Dates by state - http://www.city-data.com/forum/23011159-post3.html
January 2, 2013 - Expiration date of Legislation
June 30, 2013 - Last date Tier benefits can be paid
3. Extended Benefits FIX - March-May 2012: If a state has triggered off EB between March and May due to lookback, Tier IV has been expanded by an additional 10 weeks, for a total of 16 weeks, provided:

Your state triggered off EB between March-May 2012; and

3-month average UE rate in your state is 8.5%, or above (per BLS); and
You are collecting or will be collecting Tier IV benefits on or after your state triggers off between March-May 2012; and
You have exhausted Tier III on or before 5/26/12 [TBV].
Warning: If you are collecting EB at the time your state triggers off - even if it is only one week - your EB benefits end per BLS end payable period. You are not entitled to EB fix of 10 extra weeks. (some states may possibly ignore this - unlikely)

4. EUC June-December - New UE Rate Triggers - effective week beginning June 3, 2012.
Tier I - 0% (no change)
Tier II – 6% - new trigger
Tier III - 7% - 1% increase
Tier IV - 9% - 1% increase

Last date to exhaust benefits and move to a tier under the existing/old UE rate is

5/19 - state benefits
5/26 - tier benefits

If you are currently collecting a tier, you are grandfathered to the old rate that existed for that tier prior to June 3 and can exhaust that tier beyond June.

5. EUC September-December - Tiers Reconfigured - effective week beginning September 2, 2012.
14 weeks - Tier I (reduced 6 weeks)
14 weeks - Tier II (no change)
09 weeks - Tier III (reduced 4 weeks)
10 weeks - Tier IV (increased 4 weeks)

Last date to exhaust benefits and move to a tier under the old configuration 20 wks/Tier 1, 14 wks/Tier II, 6 wks/Tier IV, is:

8/18 - state benefits
8/25 - tier benefits

If you are currently collecting a tier, you are grandfathered to the length of that tier which existed for that tier prior to September 2 and can exhaust that tier beyond September.

6. EUC Benefit Calculation is based on original monetary determination of claim as follows:

Through September 1, 2012:
Tier 1 - 80% of original benefit amount
Tier 2 - 54% of original benefit amount
Tier 3 - 50% of original benefit amount
Tier 4 - 24% of original benefit amount

September 2, 2012-January 5, 2013:*
Tier 1 - 54% of original benefit amount
Tier 2 - 54% of original benefit amount
Tier 3 - 35% of original benefit amount
Tier 4 - 39% of original benefit amount

*For new tier transition only. The benefits for the tier you are currently exhausting prior to September 2 are not affected.



Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/unemployment/1461234-unemployment-faqs-euc-credit-highest-extensions.html#ixzz1nFeV3MJJ

desperateinri wrote:

The days of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits are numbered.

President Obama signed today a bill that will extend federal unemployment benefits, which were set to expire at the end of this month, through the end of this year. But the law, combined with falling unemployment rates, will reduce the maximum duration of benefits to 73 weeks from 99 by year's end.

-- Tier 1: Starting in September, Tier 1 is reduced from a maximum of 20 weeks to 14, but remains available in all states regardless of their unemployment rate.

-- Tier 2: Remains at 14 weeks, but starting in June is available only in states with an unemployment rate of at least 6 percent. Today it is available in all states.

-- Tier 3: Starting in September, Tier 3 is reduced to nine from 13 weeks and the trigger rate rises to 7 percent from 6 percent.

-- Tier 4: The trigger rate rises to 9 percent from 8.5 percent in June. In September, the duration of benefits rises to 10 weeks from six today. (Some people will actually qualify for up to 16 weeks under Tier 4, which is explained in this article. Please read!)

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/22/BUNC1NALD5.DTL#ixzz1nDtkV2qO

MaryKay wrote:We are currently working on getting the most up to date information for all members with the specifics. If anyone has information please post here for all members.

As always, we want to hear from our members, but we also appreciate the help. This is complicated as many States differ in their handling of UC benefits, not to mention the triggers.

Thanks to all of you.

marymc wrote:So basically (in CA) if I file for Tiers 3 and 4 before Dec 23rd, I'll get about 19 weeks? I think I'm starting Tier 3 now, and if that's the case, I'll have exhausted those 19 weeks before Dec 23rd.

desperateinri wrote:

The days of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits are numbered.

President Obama signed today a bill that will extend federal unemployment benefits, which were set to expire at the end of this month, through the end of this year. But the law, combined witcfh falling unemployment rates, will reduce the maximum duration of benefits to 73 weeks from 99 by year's end.

-- Tier 1: Starting in September, Tier 1 is reduced from a maximum of 20 weeks to 14, but remains available in all states regardless of their unemployment rate.

-- Tier 2: Remains at 14 weeks, but starting in June is available only in states with an unemployment rate of at least 6 percent. Today it is available in all states.

-- Tier 3: Starting in September, Tier 3 is reduced to nine from 13 weeks and the trigger rate rises to 7 percent from 6 percent.

-- Tier 4: The trigger rate rises to 9 percent from 8.5 percent in June. In September, the duration of benefits rises to 10 weeks from six today. (Some people will actually qualify for up to 16 weeks under Tier 4, which is explained in this article. Please read!)

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/22/BUNC1NALD5.DTL#ixzz1nDtkV2qO

desperateinri wrote:

The days of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits are numbered.

President Obama signed today a bill that will extend federal unemployment benefits, which were set to expire at the end of this month, through the end of this year. But the law, combined with falling unemployment rates, will reduce the maximum duration of benefits to 73 weeks from 99 by year's end.

-- Tier 1: Starting in September, Tier 1 is reduced from a maximum of 20 weeks to 14, but remains available in all states regardless of their unemployment rate.

-- Tier 2: Remains at 14 weeks, but starting in June is available only in states with an unemployment rate of at least 6 percent. Today it is available in all states.

-- Tier 3: Starting in September, Tier 3 is reduced to nine from 13 weeks and the trigger rate rises to 7 percent from 6 percent.

-- Tier 4: The trigger rate rises to 9 percent from 8.5 percent in June. In September, the duration of benefits rises to 10 weeks from six today. (Some people will actually qualify for up to 16 weeks under Tier 4, which is explained in this article. Please read!)

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/22/BUNC1NALD5.DTL#ixzz1nDtkV2qO

Phase-Out of Federal Unemployment Insurance

As of June 2012, 24 states will no longer qualify for a portion of benefits under the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, bringing a premature end to unemployment insurance (UI) payments for those workers who will not qualify for the next tier of EUC benefits. Congress passed legislation in February to scale back the EUC program by imposing stricter unemployment rate triggers that take effect in June and by reducing the overall number of benefit weeks beginning in September (Table 1). In addition to the loss of EUC benefits, by the end of August, the federal-state Extended Benefits (EB) program will have drawn to a close in 35 states as a result of falling unemployment rates, effectively ending the program and benefit payments for over 500,000 unemployed workers