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Bill H3548 – 13 Weeks Unemployment Benefit Extension For High Unemployment States

The past year has been a bad one for the American worker.  Because of the 2008 financial crisis and ensuing recession – millions of Americans have lost their jobs.  The current national unemployment rate is 9.7% as of Sept 4.  While many workers will find new jobs within the time period of existing employment benefits – many more will run out of benefits before finding a new job.

On September 22, the House passed legislation called Bill H3548 which will allow any states with a total unemployment rate (TUR) of 8.5% or higher to be eligible for federal funding which will allow 13 more weeks of extended unemployment benefits for those people who have exhausted all the current benefits.

This move was made as part of the ongoing 2009 stimulus package which is designed to help the economy recover as quickly as possible and for long term unemployed people to be able to keep paying the bills while they look for work.

Which states are eligible for these benefits?

The eligible states are:

ALABAMA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, NEVADA, NEW JERSEY, NORTH CAROLINA, NEW YORK, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, WASHINGTON, AND WEST VIRGINIA. PLUS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO.

When can I get these extra benefits?

At the moment this bill has not become law (as of Sept 24).  The senate still has to approve the bill and it is unclear how long it will take.  It is anticipated that the bill will pass Senate but it might take a while.

Keep in mind that the previous extension (Extended Benefits) required state law changes since EB is a joint federal and state program. EB required a change in federal law and then required state laws to be amended.  The legislation that recently passed the House (H3548) is an extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). This does not require state law changes so it won’t require the state legislature to change state law.  This means that it should take less time to get this extension than the previous one.

How much unemployment benefits are available now?

Most states have a basic amount of 26 weeks (6 months) of employment benefits plus any extra weeks available because of various unemployment rate triggers.  These are funded by the states and/or the federal government.

271 replies on “Bill H3548 – 13 Weeks Unemployment Benefit Extension For High Unemployment States”

does anyone have any info on tn yet. i ran out of benefits sept o9.I haven’t received a letter or anything. Please help i don’t know if i should refile or not.

For anyone in ILLINOIS …… just go ahead and call teleserve, go through the prompts and you should be told to call during the week of Thanksgiving. Whichever is your normal call day.
I did this last week myself to see where the system was at in getting all this updated, Il seems to be one of the fasted systems and updated quickly. Some other states are dragging their feet and waiting for an OFFICIAL letter from the D.O.L. (Dept. of Labor) stating the rules and regulations on these 2 extensions that were passed. Either way they (every state) have to go back and pay everyone starting the week of Nov 8th. (no if and or butts)

TXS LINDA GOT MY LETTER 2DAY AM GETTING IT TXS 4 EVERY1 WHO HELP ME UNDERSTAND WAT WAS GOING ON PETER IN IL

sally i ran out sept 09 also i just got a letter monday 2 call teleserve next wed u should be gettin a letter soon i did not have 2 refile

I haven’t received any letter yet. The last week of EB finished on November 7th. The date of my claim is January 28, 2007. Please, tell me if I qualify and what I shaould do!~!! Please, help. I live in NJ in case it makes any difference

Anna Lazos,

You qualify, anyone who runs out this year qualifies as long as you have exhausted all benefits and EB was the last. You can verify this by going to http://www.unemployedworkers.org and check their fact sheet posted around November 10, 2009 it is really clear. Also, do a google search by typing in njdol (NJ Department of Labor) and the website list will pop up it is the first one, click on it. Then look in the left column when the page opens up and click on unemployment insurance…the update will appear. It begins with “As of November 6, 2009 President Obama signed……..” Further, NJ is eligible for 20 weeks. Good luck and God bless. By the way, you should have received a small light blue letter made the unemployment stubs but smaller sort of like the one’s you used to get for the extra $25 we were getting along with our checks. This week we should all receive a determination letter with specifics and our account balance…look for it in the mail. Also, NJ unemployed workers are instructed to call or go on line and claim your first two weeks on November 25, 2009…the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Even if you don’t receive a letter, claim your benefits because they are overloaded and may have missed some people. This is why they posted on the website. Check it out!!!! Take Care.

Has anyone received the most recent extension from florida yet? My benefits run out next week and I was wondering if the account updates after the previous funds are completely gone or how long it takes for the new extension’s funds to be available..

thanks

Hi BrowardMichael – Below is a link to AWIs website….they have a “check your eligibility” for the new extension & an info page. Since you’re currrently getting benefits, you should roll right into the new extension once they have it set up. FL is still “working on” setting up the new extension though. Hopefully it won’t be much longer.

http://www.floridajobs.org/unemployment/uc_emp_claims.html

You know it sad what this world is coming to. A very good friend of mine call me last night to tell me she lost her job. Get this she lost it because she didn’t have open availability due to going to church on Sunday mornings. She was able to work Monday thru Saturday open availability just on Sunday it was from 12:30 pm to 8pm. She just couldn’t work from 8-12 due to church. I just can’t get over this.

YA GOOTA LOVE IT
YOUR SCREWED
YES THEY APROVED THE EXTENSION
BUT THE GOV NEVER GAVE EM THE CASH
YOU MIGHT GET ONE WEEK PAY
BUT ALLAS YOU WON T GET ANOTHER TILL
PAYMENT FOR OVER A MONTH
AND THEY DID NT PUT THAT IN WRITING
SO ONCE AGAIN
IT S TIME TO FEED THE RICH
AND KILL THE POOR
DID THEY HOLD OUT THE TRIILION S FOR THE RICH
NO THEY GOT THERE S WITCH IS REALLY OUR S
WHY IS THE US GOVERNMENT KILLING THE POOR

HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE

DEAD PEOPLE DON T COLLECT
GOOD JOB GOV WAY TO GO
AND BY THE WAY
THERE PAYING THE TERRORIST TO CHANGE SIDE S
THINK THERE WAITIN FOR THERE MONEY
DO YA THINK THERE GONNA CHANGE
OH WELL IT S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
AND WASHINGTON S GONNA SEE A NEW COUNTRY
WITH NO US GOVERNMENT TO KILL IT S OWN
STEAL ALL THERE TAX DOLLAR S
AND PAY THE TERRORIST TO CHANGE SIDE S
I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT
GET S EVERY THING THAT S COMIN TO EM
JUST LIKE THEY DID WITH THE POOR

Beth – KY,

Your friend should file a claim with unemployment–sounds as if she was discharged and (at least here in IL) I don’t think the scenario amounts to misconduct so she should be entitled to benefits. (This is my opinion and should not be construed as legal advice.)

Yes, it is sad. I remember when things were essentially shut down on Sundays–people went to church, had an early supper, no thinking about work–that’s what made Sunday a special day.

Rev. Tom Donoho,
I told her she needed to file a claim with the unemployment office, I just don’t understand how they can fire you for going to church. I have gone to church from the time I was a baby to about 12 and my husband and I have gotten back into to church the last couple of years with our children. Its really sad that we are loosing our jobs but to now lose them because you can’t work on Sunday morning because you go to church and she is a Sunday school teacher.

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Beth,

Yes, she definitely should file–good that you encouraged her to do so. She might even be able to get her job back if she can show that her Sunday religious involvement was of duration and the employer knew about it–there is some protection for not infringing on one’s religious needs. Again, this is my opinion (as a certified paralegal) and not meant as legal advice as I am not a lawyer–and she can always consult one.

So, does it mean that if the ARRA deadline is not extended beyond Dec. 31, 2009, we will only be getting two checks before it runs out again? AND WE HAVE TO ENDURE THIS ALL OVER AGAIN?

This is unbelievable, if THIS IS REALLY so. We are all still waiting to see something that took forever for the bill to be signed and working (CONGRESS) at that same pace, we are all doomed. I exhausted benefits FOUR months ago, and have lost everything and I am still waiting to see something from Nov. 6, 2009 bill signing and have about almost two more weeks to go to get one check. Then, all I have to look forward to is one more check (that is guaranteed) anyway.

Do I have this right? So, I made a big mistake when I told my son that we would have a Christmas through the grace of God. Now they have us lying and giving false hope to our children….what’s next?

NO ONE person can deal with these high levels of stress for as long as we have without serious health issues occuring; I am beginning to think that we are all a big science or lab project to see how many people drop off the face of the earth by piling as much stress on them while they are starving, weak, without medication, without heat, without lights, without a car, without a phone or internet to obtain jobs or receive call backs. Credit completely wiped out for good, no getting it back without working for about $10 a day and living in a tent without using any electricity or heat for the couple of years that it takes us to pay creditors and school loans backs. I can’t even wait the next 11 more days for a check…I have to sell my laptop now for food…….that’s it for my on line classes with University of Phoenix which I have less than a year to obatin a BSM. I already have the buyer picking it up tomorrow so we can eat for the next 11 days…selling dirt cheap just to eat.

This is how America is letting us live….no one will help us…even large corporations could offer food vouchers or something much like they do in a disaster. For us this is a disaster and the helicopters are flying over us letting us know they see us but are not dropping a dam thing down to us…..more like hanging signs out of the helicopters say “Be Back in A Few Months or maybe next year…………..MAYBE……………..ITS OFFICIAL–I HATE AMERICA..

However, by then we will be dead, especially those of us without medication and going untreated for health issues like I have: high blood pressure, high cholesterol (from eating all of those terribly unhealthy canned goods from the food banks. I have been to the hospital twice in one month for incredibly high levels of sodium from the canned food that skyrocketed my blood pressure to the point of almost having a stroke.

I AM NO LONGER NORMAL…THEY STRIPPED ME OF BASIC NECESSITIES, WORE ON MY MIND UNTIL IT BECAMES WEEK, AND TOOK OUR PRIDE AND ARE STILL DOING IT. I am so paranoid, afraid, and beginning to fall into unbearable depression….starting to think bad things…really bad things…there is no more hope for us…………………………………………….and I don’t see any hope down the line………no need to keep hanging on.
I’m done.
I can’t ask one more question or beg one more time for help…I just can’t……..I give up. I am quitting school tomorrow. I am done that’s it NO MORE of these games with peoples lives DOES ANYONE HEAR US, SEE US, OR FEEL US AT ALL……………??!!??!!??!!?? I give it one more year and no one will have a job………….they are not calculating the numbers right. The unemployed are already at 20% across the nation. They are not counting all of us who exhausted or have stopped looking for work or those who have gotten on welfare. They are not considering that part of the welfare requirements is that they attend job search classes every month non stop until they find a job………so those same people are competing for these jobs as well….how about count those numbers??????
The damn bill in the first place is only a f$#@% band aid (kibbles ‘n’ bits). Then what the f#$% are we supposed to do when they are done. Just keep looking and never getting a freakin’ job????????????????
I am sorry but I can no longer take this waiting game that they are playing with our lives, sanity, and physical health as well as our children’s. These mother f$%$#@’s!!!!!!!!!!

Anna Lazos,

You are included in this new bill. Please read below.
Additional Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Benefits Available

On November 6, 2009, President Obama signed legislation providing additional Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits. The new law provides up to 20 additional weeks of EUC benefits in states with an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent or higher, which includes New Jersey beginning November 8, 2009.

Letters are being mailed on November 9, 2009, to advise individuals who exhausted all federally funded extended benefit programs or were disqualified from receiving Extended Benefits (EB) due to specific separation issues (such as misconduct or refusal of suitable work) about this new program. This letter advises them that they will also receive a monetary determination letter and a separate certification notice with instructions on how to claim EUC benefits on the Internet at http://www.njuifile.net or by telephone.

The first two weeks of potential eligibility for these additional EUC benefits are the weeks ending November 14, 2009 and November 21, 2009. Claimants are instructed to certify for these first two weeks of additional EUC benefits on November 25, 2009.

We will post new information about the additional EUC benefits as it is made available to us by the United States Department of Labor.

Claimants should not contact the Department of Labor and Workforce Development or report to a One-Stop Career Center in reference to these additional weeks of EUC benefits; all the information concerning this program is being mailed.

This is from http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/ui/ui_index.html

Also, they are really backed up so try to be patient. I have not received my second letter/determination letter as of yet, either. However, call in on November 25, 2009 as mentioned above to the same number that you always call to claim benefits. I believe it is 973-648-7601 between 7am and 6pm. That is this Wed. before Thanksgiving. You do not need the letter and this is why they posted on the website just in case everyone did not recieve the letter. Or you can claim on line which is the way that I prefer since the phone number can be busy for hours at a time…try both though.

Also, to confirm my information you may check http://www.unemployedworkers.org

However, there may be a gap in payments/benefits after Dec. 31, 2009 if Congress does not reauthorize the ARRA which will run out before the new year. It needs to be adjusted accordingly, and NELP is pushing them to do this now so that there will not be a gap – somehow they missed this important component to the bill after weeks of deliberation , debate or should I say dragging their feet.

Good luck and God bless………

I live in Illinois but my claim is in Georgia. I have not received any information regarding if I am eligible. I’ve tried calling, e-mailing and no answer. I need to know if I will receive a letter and when and what I need to do. Do I have to re-apply through Illinois to let Geogia know that I am still not working. This is just a nightmare. I’ve had to re-apply with Illinois 3 times and possibly again and then wait for georgia to receive confirmation and then let me know whats going on. This is going to take months. Please someone can you help me.

I stay in maryland I have exhausted my benefits, but I currently work p/t about 17hrs a wk, will that qualify me for the euc extension, and do anybody know when they will mailing out letters in MD

I was receiving umployment back in 08 I currently found a job back in aug of 09, but I on work 10-17 hrs a week I stay in maryland will dat qualify me for the euc extension and has anybody in maryland got a letter cuz dey won’t answer the phone and the system is not update yet

I just received a letter from Virginia Employment Commision, but I’m really not sure on what the next step is, on the website it says to reapply for benefits, so I went ahead and did that….or was that letter a confirmation that I am going to receive those extended benefits…this really sux….I don’t wanna do this unemployment anymore….I WANNA FREAKIN JOB!!!!

I understand that NJ had the additional 20 and 13 weeks, but does that apply only to the unemployed that have exhausted their EB in 2009? What are the NJ unemployed people able to apply for if unemployed after March 2010 when my EB is exhausted?

Hi, I am come from Alabama. my unemployment benefits ending july 2010 but my balance exhaust ending month how can i extend my money? do i need to call unemployment office ( always busy) or it will automatism extend money.

IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT EXTENDED BENEFITS LEGISLATION

Legislation to extend Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 was enacted on December 19, 2009. Public Law No. 111-118 extends the phase-out period and expiration dates of EUC08 and Federal Additional Compensation (FAC). The end of the period during which an unemployed individual may file an initial application for First Tier EUC08 has been extended from December 31, 2009 to February 28, 2010. No EUC08 payments may be made for any week of unemployment beginning after July 31, 2010.

Federal Additional Compensation payments (the extra $25 per week) will continue to be payable for individuals who establish eligibility for unemployment on or before February 28, 2010. FAC payments may not be paid for any week beginning after August 31, 2010.

Hi Linda – Currently, the deadline for tier 4 is Feb. 28, 2010 unless it is extended. What state are you in? You only get Tier 4 if your state 3-month unemployment rate is 8.5% or above. Hope that helps!

If Ohio has a very high unemployment –why are they only getting 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits instead of 20 more weeks, like other states are getting? Ohios u.e. is way over 10%. Other states with the same unemployment are getting 20 more additional weeks that Obama signed in December 2009.

Ohio Is getting a total of 20 weeks . You get one extra week of EB and 13 weeks on tier 3 and 6 weeks on tier 4 . After your 13 weeks u do have to apply for the tier 4 extra 6 weeks . Just call The claim center and they will hook you up …. dont sweat it .

I live in NH I was on tier III EUC 08. Worked at automotive company that went to mexico. Unemployment stopped paying me last week when it says i have a balance of 19,ooo dollars.because, of the 7 percent rate and said there is no money funding this program. BS Its from the FAC.

Hi Linda ? Unfortunately you only get Tier 4 if your state’s 3-month unemployment rate is 8.5% or above. Hopefully there will be an additional tier added for the long-term unemployed. Good luck & keep smiling 🙂

Mark,
Thank you:) I worked 20 yrs in a factory. It went to Mexico. Made us train these people for our jobs. I went to get my G.E.D. Before i finished it. Unemployment moved me on to Blended Solutions. Which is a crash coarse on billing and coding.7 months of BS. They had it so you couldnt fail. Went back to finish my G.E.D but, had to wait till Jan because i failed the math.I have been looking for work since June. They didnt let me go to tier IV . Why should it matter about a percent?7,8,9,ect . There is still very little work here. I look everyday! This is bad for everyone. Now the goverment will start out small (by percents) and we will all go down and lose everything we have PERCENT by PERCENT. They cant handle all of us at once. Yes, I am very up set because I do not feel the goverment is treating the american people right. They will turn people against people. Shame on the goverment.I dont think i will ever vote again after learning what i have learned during this fight for my hard work for many years. Its all is gone on 1.5 percent. Good luck to all Respectfully yours

Does anyone know how soon after your last Tier III check in NJ (mine was Feb. 16, 2010) will we receive the Tier IV and for what length of time will we receive it?
Good Luck Everyone..

HERE WE GO AGAIN me and my husband and were wondering if theres any talk of A NEW EXTENSION PS LETS PUT THIS COUNTRY BACK 2 WORK

EVERYONE Go to http://tinyurl.com/y9dwtzt VOTE on how long unemployment benefits should be extended. This is on MSNBC?s website which is good that we are getting the attention but so far there?s 7000 voters and so far Indefinitely is leading by a few % pts so lets show MSNBC there?s THOUSANDS & THOUSANDS of us.

I have exhusted tier4 of unemployment from the state of Georgia.
Am I eligible to continue getting extentions with this new signing of this bill?
Please someone please let me know.

Thank you

My tier 3 is exhusted and i live in NH. Is there something to the 13 wks federal state extension, That follows tier 3?

Now this is sad for many of us:

First, the facts. The jobs bill doesn’t “extend” coverage. What it does is extend some of the deadlines so that people who were laid off later in 2009 and into 2010 can still qualify for the extra unemployment benefits provided in last year’s stimulus bill.

But once someone has moved through the various tiers of coverage (which is combined with a Federal/State Extended Benefits program), you’re out of luck. At best, after 99 weeks your unemployment coverage is over and this bill doesn’t address that.

Which makes the various Republican talking points about creating an additional permanent welfare state even more ludicrous. Even if that were the case, it’s a welfare state that only last 99 weeks. Which isn’t much of a financial crutch.

All of this might be a surprise to cable news network viewers, who hear the phrase “extended unemployment” thrown around in the same haphazard way as other favorite political phrases like “death panels.”

The news coverage gives the impression that this bill gives the long-term unemployed even more money, and that is simply not the case.

The tragedy is that it’s a definition that is easily included in a typical sound-bite length news story. It’s a simple matter to add the phrase, “while the bill extends the deadlines for the unemployment to receive extensions, it doesn’t tack on additional weeks of coverage for those who have already exhausted their benefits.” See, I can do it and I’m not even in the cable news business.

To be fair, the print side of the news business has only been marginally more successful in correctly defining the situation. I’ve read perhaps 50 print stories on the jobs bill in the last 24 hours and perhaps only 3 or 4 have correctly defined the problem.

While this might seem like a minor journalism problem, whether or not the bill includes additional weeks of benefits for the several million people who have exhausted (or will soon exhaust) their unemployment benefits is a huge issue. Every news site I’ve visited today has comment after comment from worried and confused people attempting to find out what the jobs bill does and does not include. It’s a simple question, but many of the journalists covering the issue seem more interested in covering the political wranglings than the meat of the story.

To All: The new bill ONLY extends the deadline/cutoff date through the end of the year. It does NOT add any more weeks or additional tiers.

Vicki – see the attached link. There are no more tiers after tier 4, but did you ever receive your state extended benefits? Not sure if they are still available or not in GA so I don’t want to get your hopes up, but at least check it out. http://www.dol.state.ga.us/spotlight/sp_ext_benefits_programs_available.htm

Linda – Wasn’t NH one of the “low” unemployment rate states? To get tier 4, your state has to have a 3-month unemployment rate of 8.5% or higher.

Good luck all! Hang tough & be strong!

UNE – Vicki & Linda are the ladies who posted above me on this page…..this page is the Bill H3548 page on 4pillars, not the FL page. I jumped over to this page just because I saw no one answered their questions. There is not much activity on this page of 4 pillars.

Phone Campaign to Begin on Monday 3/15? PLEASE JOIN US!!!

MONDAY
Senator Harry Reid: Phone= (202) 224-3542
Senator Jean Shaheen: Phone= (202) 224-2841

TUESDAY
Senator Richard Durbin: Phone= (202) 224-2152
Senator Max Baucus: Phone= (202) 224-2651

WEDNESDAY
Senator Debbie Stabenow: Phone= (202) 224-4822
Senator Sherrod Brown: Phone= (202) 224-2315

THURSDAY
Senator Robert Casey: Phone= (202) 224-6324
Senator Chris Dodd: Phone= (202) 224-2823

FRIDAY
Senator Al Franken: Phone= (202) 224-5641
Senator Arlen Specter: Phone= (202) 224-4254

Tier 5 to Survive :THE MOVIE made it to at least 2 websites. There is a stationary link to the YouTube video on the Unemployed – Friends website and also the following web page:
http://www.obamalisten.com/shoutoutamerica.php

In 24 hours it has over 800 views but that will not get us the media attention or Washington action we desperately need! HELP IT GO VIRAL – PLEASE!
http://tinyurl.com/ye956rd
Shotgun to all your contacts. Use it in all your emails/fax to Washington and the media and TWEET it to EVERYONE. We will be heard. This is our battle cry!!!!!

House in Session today let?s make them calls to amend, hr

4213 for tier V.And send them faxes all weekend.

So 877-762-8762 is the toll-free number at the Capitol Hill

Switchboard, 202-224-3121
202-225-3121

The 99ers need a Tier V added to Unemployment Benefits
The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate, The U.S. House,

The U.S. Senate, The U.S. House, Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ), Sen.

Dick Durbin (IL), Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY), Sen. Harry

Reid (NV), Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY), Rep. Nancy Pelosi

(CA-08), Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05) and Rep. Jim

McDermott (WA-07)

Senators and Representatives:

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