Posted on 12/13/2010 9:53:17 AM PST by SeekAndFind
There seems to be some continuing confusion over exactly what form the unemployment extension takes in the Obama-GOP tax deal. On every occasion where I have discussed this, people have understood it to mean that unemployment benefits are being extended past the 99-week limit, allowing people to collect another 13 months of unemployment checks. That’s not actually the case, which I have stated in two earlier posts this week but not as a standalone point.
The extension in this case applies to the entire program, not individual benefits. Both Gabriel Malor and Calculated Risk have noted the difference. The emergency federal benefits come in four tiers of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and Extended Benefits (EB) that start when state-based unemployment ends, and the number of weeks available for aid depends on the unemployment rate within the state. Half of the states qualify for both the full EUC (the first three tiers) and the full extended benefits (the fourth tier).
However, without this deal, EUC and EB both end within the next two weeks regardless of how many weeks of compensation people in the system have received. This deal extends the two programs for another 13 months. This will allow those in the system who have not yet exhausted their eligibility — up to 99 weeks in half the states but only 60 weeks in five — to continue receiving unemployment.
For instance, a person who has received the standard 26 weeks of unemployment from the state and another 20 weeks through the EUC will continue to be eligible for payments, up to another 53 weeks in half of the states. Those who have already received 99 weeks, or whatever the maximum is for their state, will still be ineligible for any other unemployment compensation. The caps remain in place, while the program continues for those who more recently lost their jobs or will lose their jobs in the near future.
There is still a substantial cost to this extension, and no one is sure at the moment whether the GOP will raid what’s left of Porkulus to fund it or not. However, it is not an extension of benefits to those who have already received 99 weeks of unemployment, and many within the system now won’t qualify for 99 weeks in any event.
Whether this gets passed or fails it is going to multiply a very bad situation for Obambi.
The people who are livin’ large for 99 weeks are not going to look for work since they think it will be EXTENDED longer (based on the media hype)
So the last few weeks of unemployment, when they should be looking for actual work, are going to come and go and there will be a ton of desperate people in a few weeks.
If you have 98 weeks, you get the extension. If you are the unfortunate one that hits 99 weeks than you are out of luck. I believe that is how it works. I am just grateful that I have never had to take unemployment. FREEPERS act like it is some jackpot or winfall. I would rather my 7800 a month working than try to survive on the 1600 dollars for sitting around watching tv and try to keep up my lifestyle (it would NEVER work).
If you have 98 weeks and they pass an extension, you get your 99th week and you're off. If you're like me and have run through 26 weeks, right now you're getting nothing. With an extension, you'd get eligibility to file for the continuing tiers through next year.
I'd like 7800 vs. the 1200 a month I was getting too. And you know what, I've been too busy trying to find work in this time period to be sitting around watching tv. So I guess I'm doing something wrong. I get 400 less than you think AND I don't even get to watch tv all day.
Actually the libtards get it. Ed ‘Sgt’ Schultz on PMSNBC has been against the tax deal and yelling every night on his show that we need to help the ‘99’ers’, who are running out of benefits after 99 weeks.
Ed is in from the ‘Nancy Pelosi School of Economics’, where the best stimulus is just to give people money indefinitely if they are not working. Ed thinks cutting folks off after only 99 weeks is just cruel and unusualy punishment.
You have to understand that most of these people have no idea what the economy is really like for the unemployed or what unemployment is, who pays for it, how it’s funded, how realistic it is to be unable to get work for a long term period, etc. Don’t waste your energy. Good luck to you. I hope your new year brings better days.
I respect your responsible career of 35 years. I am 75 and find work painting, do home repairs for people and repair stuff for others.
If you can’t find work then I also respect your trying to find work, however, If you accept Unemployment Payments you should provide some Public Service to your Community - by standing guard at a gas station or convenience store so some low life doesn’t rob others or ?. Go do something for the money your getting from me and others that do work.
I am curious - has anyone bothered to do some sort of map overlay - one that reflects the red state/blue state (and or counties) with unemployment figures?
I believe we would see a general trend - but just a theory...
2nd, while many hear can sympathize with those who are without a job, and have been for extended times, one has to wonder about the double-standard beginning to show up here on FR:
We complain and wine about unconstitutional and out-of-control government spending, but then when things get tough, unemployment compensation (a large part of which is unfunded) somehow becomes a sacred cow - kind of like how Medicare/Social Security is a sacred cow to the elderly.
Paying for social programs causes higher taxes. Higher taxes mean less money in the pockets of consumers and in the accounts of businesses. Less money in those pockets mean less demand and less jobs. It is a vicious cycle.
I see by joe fonebone, that it appears you are in the Detroit, MI area. I have family seriously considering moving from Texas back to that area. They seem to think that the Detroit area is about to make a turn for the better (don’t ask me what gives them that idea) and see opportunity.
That’s a good idea. Maybe he can rake leaves on the highway next to the work release prisoners. Let’s not go after the banks that took TARP money or GM or the union kickback road construction jobs from the porkulus bill. Let’s go after this guy because God forbid he took advantage to keep his lights on via a government program after working........and paying taxes.....for 35 years.
HUH????............I did 8 plus years in the military...I am now 53 years old..started working at 14.5 years old ( you know that back then, this was not something to be proud of, just something you did ) what should I do? I will gladly work in an office of some type, but to have someone my age picking up garbage off the side of the road ( like I said, I have spent my entire life working, while the people on 4th generation welfare have gotten fatter and fatter, doing nothing ) I have no objection to earning my pay...but, you better talk to the unions first, ‘cuz they are roadblocks to this, chain gangs, and any other earn your handout program....I am not a lazy bastard, and I deeply resent those who call me that...most of the ignorant posters on this thread and others like this one were not even born when I went though my first recession...they, and anyone like them, can KMA...
Good for you, my friend! These people out here under fifty who have jobs have no idea what it’s like. Especially if you’re pushing 50 years of age. When they get the ax they’ll be singin’ a different tune.
Good luck to you. Hang on to your faith.
Michigan is a dead zone...there is nothing here to move to...Yes, you can buy a house on a credit card, and yes, it is beautiful here...but, we have had 8 years of a canadian socialist feminazi governator, with mostly lib dem congress and senate...this place will take at least 4 years to get back to normal, and another 4 years to be competitive..and that is if we have consdrvatives in all 3 branches of the government...if my family, my wifes family and all roots were not here, I would be gone in a second...hell, 2 of my 3 sons were forced to leave already due to this place being an economic hellhole...do not come here, you will regret it..( nice place to vacation, though )
Go stand guard at a gas station? Some people should think before they type then read what they’ve typed about 10 times before they hit the “post” button. Anyone standing guard at a gas station is called a “security guard”. Rent-a-cop companies don’t hire old people. Plus, it’s against the law to stand around in front of a convenience store with a gun in your hand. You’d be arrested in about 5 minutes.
There's always that Freeper contingent that reminds me of Ebenezer Scrooge saying that the poor had better die "and decrease the surplus population."
Apparently there are those whose ideal of a “recovery” program is allow people to starve to death.
I know the government needs to stop spending. But I don’t know what the answer is for people who can’t find a job. I guess we can put some more foreclosures on the market and see if that stimulates the economy.
You have found the odd jobs and have looked for the odd jobs. Many others have not. Many others are waiting for their jobs to come back, which may or may not happen. And some won't take another job if it means a pay cut -- especially if their benefits pay more.
I was in the situation in mid 2001. I was out of work as a programmer and couldn't find another opportunity. And as time passed the likelihood of another job was remote because my skills were getting out of date and I couldn't afford to re-educate myself. And things didn't get better after 9-11, other than the job fairs which opened up. When my benefits ran out, I started teaching. I was hired before they ran out but through bureaucratic snafus, I didn't get to start for a month and a half.
Anyway, a couple weeks after I started teaching (at half my previous salary), NJ extended unemployment. I received a check that was bigger than my teaching salary. I could've made more sitting at home, and let me tell you that it was tempting. But a few weeks later, I would've been in the same situation and I wouldn't have had even a teaching job.
Anyway, it's 9 nines later. I've stopped calling myself a programmer in a temporary teaching assignment. I have my Masters in education and I'm making approx what I was making in 2001. Yes, I had to start over.
That being said, I know a few people that ambled around for a couple of years before they figured it out. They figured it was someone else's fault, so they shouldn't have to do anything. And they thought that their position would somehow magically appear. Good luck.
I hope you don’t live in any of this 20% of Detroit.
http://www.businessinsider.com/detroit-garbage-pickup-bankruptcy-2010-12
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