Federal Unemployment Extensions Renewed through 2013

The reauthorization maintains the EUC program through December 31, 2013 as it was structured during the last four months of 2012. It neither adds nor reduces the maximum weeks of available EUC benefits for which states qualify depending on their three-month average unemployment rates.

As the table below illustrates, federal EUC benefits become available to eligible unemployed workers actively looking for work after their maximum regular state unemployment benefits run out. EUC Tier 1, offered in all states, provides up to 14 weeks of additional benefits. Tier 2 provides up to 14 additional weeks of benefits in states with 3-month average unemployment rates of at least 6 percent. Tier 3 provides up to 9 additional weeks in states with unemployment rates of at least 7 percent. And those states with unemployment rates of 9 percent or higher offer up to 10 more weeks in EUC Tier 4.