More Than a Million in U.S. May Lose Jobless Benefits

[The Northerner]

April 29 (Bloomberg) -- Since the U.S. recession began in December 2007, Congress has extended the length of unemployment benefits for the jobless three times. Now, the lawmakers may have reached their limit.

They are quietly drawing the line at 99 weeks of aid, a mark that hundreds of thousands of Americans have already reached. In coming months, the number of those who will receive their final government check is projected to top 1 million.

It’s a deadline that has rarely been mentioned in recent debates over jobless benefits, in which Republicans have delayed aid because of cost concerns. The deadline hasn’t been lost on Teauna Stephney, a 39-year-old single mother from Bothell, Washington, who said she could become homeless once her $407 weekly checks stop in June.

“What are people like me supposed to do?” said Stephney, who said almost two years of benefits haven’t proved long enough for her to find work after she lost her last job in August 2008. Referring to lawmakers, she said, “I would like them to come and talk to me and spend a day in my shoes.”

Democrats who have pushed through the past extensions agree there’s insufficient backing to go beyond 99 weeks, largely because of mounting concern over the federal deficit, projected to reach $1.5 trillion this year.
“You can’t go on forever,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, of Montana, whose panel oversees the benefits program. “I think 99 weeks is sufficient,” he said.

“There’s just been no discussion to go beyond that,” said Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aXwP.wJosrtY

[uberblonde]

1. They claim there's "no political will."

So many people are under the mistaken impression this was fixed with the last extension vote. They don't understand that it's really another tier of benefits that's needed.

[taught_me_patience]

2. 99 weeks is almost two years

I agree that it is sufficient.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Sufficient?

Sufficient for what? In what sense?

[taught_me_patience]

5. Sufficient time to find a job. n/t

[Justitia]

6. What about for workers who are 55+, that no one will hire (or insure)? - eom

[taught_me_patience]

8. So what should we do extend unemployment for ten years

until they reach social security?

[Justitia]

9. I was looking for your suggestions, since you have a such a strong opinion.

So, what is your solution?

In case you know nothing about it, this is a HUGE problem.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. What do you suggest? I actually KNOW people who have been looking for more

than two years, have exhausted their savings, sold their houses, etc., and STILL can't find anything.

[ipaint]

15. If we have to, and tax the assholes on wall street who caused the mess in order to pay for it. nt

[Tempest]

7. LOL!

Spoken like someone who hasn't been unemployed during the recession and jobless recovery. Especially someone over the age of 50.

[Hannah Bell]

dupe

[Hannah Bell]

10. sure, 10% of the workforce is unemployed out of laziness & nearly 20%

underemployed for the same reason.

if their benefits are cut, i'm sure they'll get off their butts & go find all the jobs out there going begging for lack of applicants.

[DavidDvorkin]

17. Meaningless bullshit.

[lonestarnot]

4. What are you talking about?

[Digit]

12. I may finally be getting a job after almost two years

I am over 50 and this past interview was the first interview I had been offered in over 8 months!
I still have to pass the background check and drug test so I am not celebrating yet. Being beaten up during my unemployed status has left me too cautious.

Unfortunately the job will pay only half of what I made in my last job, but with the interviews being so scarce...I had to take the only thing offered. Still, it hurts to go from 45K to 24K. It hurts not only my pride, but trying to afford living on that as a single older woman...not to mention what it does to my eventual social security income.

It really offends me that people think one can just "get a job" with the snap of the fingers.
I have taken numerous courses, I am an expert in MS Office, build my own computers, have tons of experience in the workplace but nobody wanted to even call me for an interview! I had experts check out my resumes to see if there was a problem there. They tweaked it, but that was almost two years ago.

So give us unemployed a break.

Anyway, I MAY have a job.....and just in time, too.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. My fingers are crossed for you

Umm, is break a leg appropriate here or do superstitions not apply?

[Digit]

14. The sentiment is well received

irregardless of the literal meaning...;)

Thank you very much!

[NickB79]

16. 1 million unemployed with NO income = double dip recession

[Joanne98]

18. Unemployment benefits are the 2nd best stimulus. Just behind food stamps.

Pull that money out of the economy and it will hit the middle class. People who don't understand stimulus should be run out of the country. Idiots are killing us!