As we head towards the end of the year, federal extended unemployment programs are phasing out. Unless Congress reauthorizes an extension of federally funded unemployment compensation, the only benefits unemployed workers will be eligible for is up to 26 weeks of state unemployment.
The federal government has traditionally provided long term unemployment benefits which are in addition to state benefits. This changed when legislation was passed in January providing for extended unemployment benefits for the remainder of 2012.
If you're unemployed and not sure how the changes impact you, check your state unemployment website for details. States are starting to provide advance notice of benefit cuts. For example, California posted an update on September 25:
- According to federal law, the last payable week ending date for all federal extensions is December 29, 2012.
- Regardless of when your regular claim or extension benefits start, December 29, 2012, will be the last week ending date that EDD can pay federal extension (Tiers 1 - 4) benefits to eligible unemployed workers, even if someone is currently unemployed or has a remaining balance on their federal extension.
Here's more on the phase out of federal unemployment insurance benefits from the National Employment Law Project (NELP).
Congress may reauthorize federal benefits for 2013, but if they do it probably won't be until later on and it may go down to the wire like it did last year. This means that unemployed workers have no guarantee of receiving any benefits beyond state unemployment benefits after the end of the year.
Video: What is an Unemployment Extension
Read More: Unemployment 2013 | Unemployment Benefits | Extended Unemployment Benefits
What a tragedy for so many people!
It is almost 12 midnight here in a small coffee shop here in Connecticut.
I come here once a week to use the free internet, laptop and get my free cup of coffee from a kind sole behind the counter. Today was especially hard for me because the two interviews I went on within past days concluded by company response, each position and requisition was being abandoned for 2012. They are opting to send the open positions out to China as a cost savings approach. My younger son and daughter today told me not to worry as I updated them on our financial status knowing the unemployment Federal Extensions will be non existent at the end of December 2012. They remain upbeat and keep me going in a positive direction because they know that is the way their mother would have wanted it. Ironic how things happen in life, the same time the federal unemployment extensions run out in 2012 couples perfect with the anniversary of a loved ones passing. The government beat my wife on that event too. It is true no medical insurance and Job will kill a person pretty effectively. During tonight’s presidential debate I saw no guilt by either man but continue to watch how congress votes in their pay raises once a year in a record setting voting session that lasts about 5 minutes with both parties coming together unanimously without argument. Friday this week the bank will present me with their final foreclosure paper work as we head for winter here in Connecticut and our government turns colder.
At the end of this year… my daughter and I will be homeless because the federal extension ends Dec. 29th . As I sit here and watch her soooo comfortably watching her Disney channel… I can’t stop woundering what our future hold next month. I got sole custody of her a year and a half ago after her mother quitted on her. My daughter is 8 years old…. and I’m terrified……. I pray and pray…
I’ve wondered why there isn’t more concern about this?
There are so many people who will not be able to provide roofs for their families.
It is so sad.
I live in California, prices for everything seem to continually rise.
I am single mother with no family to live with once my extension ends. I search for a job but I havent found one.
My heart and prayers go out to you all!!
Nikki… I’ll pray for you and hope God will answer everybody’s prayers. Being a single parent makes it even that much harder.. sincerely single parent dad lost in San Diego.
I can’t believe that there isn’t more outrage over this. I have been unemployed for 10 months constantly looking for a job. Being a single mom I too am concerned with what will happen when unemployment runs out in 4 weeks. David and Nikki I pray for you as well. Where is the help that we need?
This is tragic. Against my decision and preference, I am a single mother of three – the youngest only 9 months old. My estranged husband has never even seen the baby. In fact, he told me to “get rid of her” when I informed him that I was pregnant. That followed a job loss, another dead end relationship and one disappointed “position filled” comment after another. I can’t believe unemployment is ending in just a few short weeks. It just keeps going from bad to worse. I have NO clue what we’re going to do come the end of the month. Still, God works miracles. I know that if I have faith, then He will see us through this one, too.
I can’t believe its almost Christmas and the government can’t let all of us know something about extending our unemployment . I have hope that they will do something soon so we can not have to be worried where we will go.
Yeah it does suck. I saw an article that said extended benefits promotes laziness and dependency. I disagree! I worked for my last employer for 3 years and made TONS of money. I didn’t miss a single day and was NEVER late. I worked my butt off then lost my job in July (through no fault of my own) and have been doing everything I can to find a job. Nobody is hiring me! I get a couple $100 a week from UE, but compared to the thousands I use to get, I’m barely surviving. I just found out this week that I can’t even file for extended benefits when my 26 weeks runs out in the next two weeks. I’m pretty much screwed. I’m also paying for school, so not only will I have to drop out if I don’t find a job fast enough, I’ll also be on the street too. I don’t see how so many people are against UE when the money for it is taken out of your OWN check. I mean you can get it, if you haven’t worked before. That being said, last year when I was working I was HAMMERED with taxes around this time. I was getting tons of taxes taken out of every check. I’m talking hundreds of dollars per check and I was furious. I ended up making more money not working overtime than working the OT. And now that I’m on the opposite side of the fence, ironically I’m getting screwed again this year.
I am a Skilled Experienced Licensed Nurse. I have been unemployed For over a year.. I have not had health insurance since 2002 . I submit applications at a rate over 25 per week. Every Week . It is Obsurd.. With the Mental Health conditions in the country today , it is obvious that we need Mental Health Nurses.. Our government is not concerned with preventive health or catastraphic situatons.. My skills and experience is stagnating.. I abhore to think that recent shootings could have been prevented with increased Mental Heath Clinics staffed by Experienced Mental Health Nurses and other Professionals.
Its sad ive been unemployed for 9 months and i have 2 daughters how will i survive i worked 14 years straight never had have gotten unemployment so sad that our government could just do that to us
Ron- Have you looked in to a section 30? This promotes education training while collecting unemployment benefits. Good luck to you all. I’ll be praying endlessly. xoxo
For California residents, the EDD website states that “MOST eligible unemployed workers will not qualify for any or all of the federal extensions (Tiers 1 – 4). The majority of unemployed workers with a regular claim who qualified for 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, claimed full weeks of benefits since the start of their claims, and had no breaks in collecting benefits (i.e., returned to work) could anticipate the following based on when their regular claim started:
For regular claims that started after February 2012, the majority of unemployed workers may potentially qualify for up to 14 weeks in Tier 1 when their regular claim ends but not the maximum benefits available in Tiers 2-4.
This according to the EDD is only available to unemployed persons who filed after February 2012 and before mid-August 2012.