House Passes Extended Unemployment Benefits

[tonysam]

Source: Washington Independent

Yesterday it was the Senate; today the House passed legislation to extend jobless benefits at least 14 weeks nationwide.

The count was 403-12. The “nays” comprised mostly conservative Republicans who oppose the tiny employer surtax that will fund the benefit extension.

The bill will provide an additional 14 weeks of unemployment insurance in every state, with an extra six weeks going to folks in the 27 states where jobless rates have topped 8.5 percent.

“This means that they will be able to survive,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said before the vote. “Not thrive, but survive.”

Read more: http://washingtonindependent.com/66729/house-passes-extended-unemployment-benefits

---

The president says he will sign the bill quickly.

[Hekate]

1. That's good news indeed. KnR

[defendandprotect]

2. GREAT . .. and they should keep going with it -- and corporations should pay heavily . . .

for the damage capitalism has done to labor --

[tonysam]

3. Somebody commenting at the link said

he or she heard on CNN that it would be the "last" extension, but I don't think that's true. I know the homebuyer's tax credit was extended one more time, and that would be it. I suspect the person got it mixed up.

[Abq_Sarah]

31. Every single business

Will be made to pay from the mom and pop to the large corporation.

Tax dollars don't fund unemployment. It's funded through a tax on every single business that has at least one employee.

[Dulcinea]

4. Excellent!

A reprieve for a lot of people. Thanks to all those who fought for this & pushed it through.

[tonysam]

5. The president is expected to sign the bill tomorrow.

link

[indimuse]

6. great!

!!

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Pardon my ignorance but what are the totals now?

26+10+14 (+6 for states above 8.5%) ???


or is my memory off???

[tonysam]

10. 99 weeks total for states with high unemployment n/t

[Techn0Girl]

17. Actually after Dec 29 ALL extensions expire

Including the new one.

This fact is being hugely under reported.

http://www.freep.com/article/20091105/NEWS15/91105048/1319/Congress-OKs-extension-of-unemployment-benefits

[Techn0Girl]

12. These are the current totals...

Regular Unemployment - 26 Weeks

ALL THE BELOW EXTENSIONS ALL EXPIRE ON DEC 29 INCLUDING THE NEW BILL (meaning you can not apply for any of them after Dec 29 - including the new bill)

1. Tier 1 extended benefits - 20 weeks

2. Tier 2 extended benefits - 13 weeks (not all states have this)

3. Current Federal FED-ED extended benefits 13 or 20 weeks - not all states eligible for 20 weeks

4. NEW Federal FED ED extended benefits 14 - 20 weeks - not all states eligible for 20 weeks

As things stand now - after Jan 1 2010 - NO extended benefits of any kind will be available and this all starts over again in 7 weeks time

[slackmaster]

8. As someone who collected federally extended UI benefits back in the '80s, I salute them

This is something that can really help people who are in need.

[Techn0Girl]

9. Let me tell you an interesting fact about the new bill ....

The new benefits - the 14 or 20 weeks extension ?
They expire on Dec 29 - THIS YEAR.

That's right - they just spent months passing a bill - that will only give benefits for to those eligible for the next 7 weeks. As the bill now stands if your current Unemployment benefits benefits run out on Jan 1 2010 - you're out of luck. That's what all the fuss was about. Seven more weeks. Period.

I see they did not wait nearly as long to gut Sarbanes -Oxley regulatory reforms that were passed to avoid another Enron situation.

Now the rumor is that ANOTHER bill will be proposed to extend the current cutoffs (Dec 29) through next year. I wonder how long THAT will take?

Banks get trillions we get 7 more weeks of 300 a week (give or take).

[tonysam]

11. This is the way I understand it

I am currently on state extended benefits, and my understanding is the federal will supercede the state EUI. I am on my fifth week of getting state EUI, so when Obama signs this bill, those five weeks will count towards the federal, but I will still have 15 weeks of federal plus the state benefits, which are 13 weeks, for a total of 28 weeks plus the five I have already used, or 33 weeks. I have not used up the alloted 79 weeks prior to this legislation; my benefits from federal and state would have expired by February 2010 were it not for this latest legislation.

That's how I understand it being, but I will surely find out from Nevada state employment how that is done.

I am not really sure what you are talking about. I believe the federal EUI applies to everybody who has been out of work since May or June of 2007 and have exhausted their benefits. It is not retroactive, however.

[Techn0Girl]

13. It is of course right - here are the links ....

http://www.freep.com/article/20091105/NEWS15/91105048/1319/Congress-OKs-extension-of-unemployment-benefits

http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-jersey/572424-new-stimulus-plan-unemployment-extension-eb-65.html

(search on the page for "2010" on the above post - you will find several hundred comments discussing the Dec 29 2009 cut off date)

[tonysam]

15. But I have exhausted all of my federal--I receive STATE benefits

I don't think I will be affected by this.

But thanks for the links.

[Techn0Girl]

14. NO.....

As the bill now stands no one can apply to receive any extension benefits (state or Federal) after Jan 1 2009. None at all

This story is , as usual being under reported.

Oh the good news is that they tacked on an amendment to the unemployment bill that DID extend the tax credit rich people get for buying houses.

[tonysam]

16. I think you are wrong.

I am NOT RECEIVING FEDERAL EXTENDED BENEFITS--THOSE EXHAUSTED IN OCTOBER. I am receiving STATE extended benefits--not federal. The federal will supercede the state benefits.

This report doesn't apply in my situation.
_____

From the "freep" article:

With the highest jobless rate in the nation at 15.3% in September, many Michiganders find themselves in dire need of the extension, which is available to people who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits and the up to 33 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation Congress had earlier authorized.

But in order to be eligible, people will need to have already exhausted those benefits or do so by the end of the year. Under this legislation, no one whose benefits expire in 2010 will receive the extension, though Congress is expected to consider legislative proposals to extend that eligibility window as well.
_____

I will receive the twenty weeks because my federal exhausted in October. I used up the 33 weeks. The state extended doesn't apply.

[Techn0Girl]

18. Good luck to you ... Please read the bill ...

Firstly...
You must receive state extended benefits first before you can receive federal extended benefits. That is the way the law is written so I can not account for what you are reporting to be your experience. I must assume that you are mistaken somehow.

Secondly read the link that I provided then read the bill itself (you can google that)
All eligibility to receive extended benefits expires Dec 29.

If you are receiving any extended benefit tiers you will continue to receive them until the particular tier that you are on expires. After that you can currently receive NO more extended benefits state or federal of any kind.

You should read the bill and the denver free press link that I provided. You may be in for a nasty surprise later.

[tonysam]

19. Don't. Please don't. I qualify, Period.

DID YOU READ THE ARTICLE? IT SAYS people whose federal benefits have been exhausted after their state regular of 26 weeks PLUS the 33 weeks of federal will get 20 extra weeks. I qualify because I USED THEM ALL UP BY OCTOBER 2009. I am on state extended benefits which have nothing to do with this legislation. It's just that the federal EUI supercedes it. EVERYTHING I have read about this confirms it.

The freep article says in plain English IF you have exhausted your 26 plus 33 weeks of regular state and federal extended UI by the end of the year, you are eligible. I already have. Period.

[Techn0Girl]

29. If you used up your ALL benefits before the end of this year then you do qualify...

And you are one of the lucky ones.

Unfortunately this hugely debated and contested bill will do absolutely nothing for anyone who uses up their benefits in 7 more weeks. State or Federal it doesn't matter.

There will be 200,000 + a month Americans starting in 7 weeks who will get nothing. This bigger picture is rather bleak thus far.

Our representatives should have pushed for more. As it stands now - this will all repeat again in 7 weeks. Why isn't this being reported ?

[Techn0Girl]

30. This FAQ is From the New York Times....

You can choose to believe them or not....

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/extended-unemployment-benefits-faq/

Once again - it doesn't matter if you are on State or Federal extended benefits. State extended benefits are funded by the Feds anyway.

From the FAQ....

"Basically, your benefits need to run out by the end of this year to qualify for the latest extension, he added, though he said it’s likely that Congress will pass another one later this year, given the unemployment rate. “I don’t think the administration is talking about limiting or phasing out extended benefits just yet,” Mr. Stettner said."

[tonysam]

20. I don't believe one word you are saying

Show me where it is. Everything else points different. You go on and on about state extended, when the one of the articles PLAINLY TELLS YOU IT HAS TO DO WITH FEDERAL EXTENDED BENEFITS RUNNING OUT.

[Techn0Girl]

23. I'm sorry this exchange with you is fruitless ....

I can't keep arguing with someone who stamps their foot and says "I don't believe you!"

I'd like to help you understand the bill better but it is impossible to discuss something with someone who is not factually based in reality. If you have a link from the actual bill that shows it extends the Dec 29th cut off date I would be frankly ecstatic to look at it myself since I will be running out of unemployment shortly myself. Unless you can do that I am forced to go with the Detroit free Press and what I have read in the rather short Senate extension myself.

I've already given you two links, one from the Detroit free press that confirms what I am saying.

The facts are these:

-The original unemployment Bill was extended by Obama and lasts to Dec 29, 2009. All federally funded extended benefits expire after that date. No more. Nada. The parrot is dead.

-This new bill adds a 13 week extension for those whose benefits have already run out but DOES NOT extend the Dec 29 deadline at all

As I said before there is discussion that new bills will be proposed extending the deadline past Dec 29 but this has not been done yet - and we all know how long the Repubs took in fighting this bill. They'll do the same with the Dec 29 extension bill.

Anyone who is curious can look at the proposed bill and see there is NO mention of an extension date proposed for extended benefits. No on can apply after Dec 29 for extended benefits. Although I can't continue this discussion with you but I would be happy to respond to anyone who actually takes the time to read the bill or even the links.

[pfitz59]

21. What about an EMPLOYMENT Bill?

This sucks... thumb in the dike stuff! Why not repeal NAFTA and restart WPA and other Roosevelt programs! 100% emplyment. Fund it with corporate bonuses and salaries! Dismantle WALMART and reinvigorate America!

[Techn0Girl]

25. I am so totally with you ....

You are so right ...so very very right.

Banks get trillions . We get the dregs.

[pfitz59]

28. Yep

Repeal NAFTA and slap tariffs on every single item that can be made in America! Put young men and women to work cleaning rivers, lakes and greenbelts. Rebuild our nations bridges, highways, water/waste treatment plants! remove graffitti and fix broken cities. Send work crews to poor (not corporate) farms and repair aging structures. Giving people a paycheck will invigorate ancillary industry from cafe's and bars to bowling alleys and movie theaters! we have to get the money flowing through more than just wall street fingers!

[edc]

26. Not until

millions of Americans who mean business descend on Washington and other major urban areas with torches and pitchforks. They will particularly need to shut down the airports and border crossing so the Goldman Sachs people can't escape to places like Switzerland and Paraguay.

[Techn0Girl]

27. Riiight... I'm not so with you i that one....

You're preaching violence against the government.
Not with you on that one - not one bit.
It sounds like Michelle Bachman talk - or Beck-speak

[tonysam]

22. By the way, the Detroit Free Press article

is talking about Michigan specifically. I could be wrong, but I don't think the state has state extended benefits. Hence the odd references to checks being mailed out in mid-December and all of the other stuff about the six weeks and 14 weeks. States like Nevada, Oregon, and others do provide state EUI and have since the beginning of October.

Everything I have read from Nevada and Oregon says if Congress passes federal extended UI, which it did, those benefits will supercede the state benefits. The weeks so far paid out by the state will apply to the federal. Period.

That is all I am going to say to you about it. That is what I know until the state of Nevada tells me otherwise.

[Techn0Girl]

24. Sigh ... No it's talking about the Federal Bill...

I am sorry but you are wrong.
I know that you want to have these benefits but wanting something does not make it so.

If you can provide a reference to the new bill that indicates it extends the Dec 29 deadline I would be happy to learn this.

Sadly this is not the case.

I am unrecing this thread because of all the misinformation in it.

[mstinamotorcity]

32. What took so long...

Oh i know. You couldn't figure out if you wanted to give it out to the American people in big bills or little ones.