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.

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 Ignore outdated information on state websites.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

stillnutty wrote:Some suggestions on where to get help when benefits run out

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/a/unemploymentrunsout.htm

plauz1 wrote:this doesnt help