Obama Signs Bill Restoring Jobless Benefits

[Dulcinea]

Federal checks could begin flowing again as early as next week to millions of jobless people who lost up to seven weeks of unemployment benefits in a congressional standoff.

President Barack Obama on Thursday signed into law a restoration of benefits for people who have been out of work for six months or more. Congress approved the measure earlier in the day. The move ended an interruption that cut off payments averaging about $300 a week to 2.5 million people who have been unable to find work in the aftermath of the nation's long and deep recession.

At stake are up to 73 weeks of federally financed benefits for people who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state jobless benefits. About half of the approximately 5 million people in the program have had their benefits cut off since its authorization expired June 2.

They are eligible for lump-sum retroactive payments that are typically delivered directly to their bank accounts or credited to state-issued debit cards. Many states have encouraged beneficiaries to keep updating their paperwork in hopes of speeding payments once the program was restored.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128696793

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. And it's about time...

[gateley]

3. For the life of me I don't understand why he was dragging his feet on this!

:7

[Dulcinea]

8. Congress was dragging their feet, not Obama.

I'm pretty sure he signed it as soon as he got it.

[gateley]

11. He did -- like IMMEDIATELY. I was being a smart ass. Should have used the sarcasm tag. nt

[impik]

9. How exactly he was dragging his feet on this?

[gateley]

10. Sarcasm. Didn't think I needed the tag since he signed it in a nanosecond. nt

[thereismore]

12. I think you are joking. nt

[gateley]

13. Yep. I was being a smart ass -- he signed that immediately. nt

[inna]

2. kr, and a question - are these payments really retroactive??

[gateley]

4. On the news I heard "retroactive payments may be received as soon as..." so I think so. nt

[LWolf]

5. k&r

[scheming daemons]

6. Everyone PLEASE REMEMBER that this wouldn't have happened with a GOP-led congress

Think about that in November.

[madmax]

7. In additon next week he will sign

Financial Reform bill.

Has announced that Tax Cuts for the wealthy will be allowed to expire.

Not too shabby, imo.