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New York State Extends Unemployment Benefits By 13 Weeks

Update – Feb 7, 2011 – Legislation to add extra weeks for 99ers

Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (Calif.) and Bobby Scott (Va.) are reintroducing legislation this week to provide additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for “99ers,”

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On May 12, the Senate finance committee voted and unanimously approved changes to legislation which will extend benefits to unemployed New Yorkers. There are approximately 120,000 unemployed people in New York currently receiving benefits which will run out before the end of May. These changes will extend the benefits by 13 weeks which result in a total of 72 weeks.

New York was given $645 million in federal stimulus package money to spend on unemployment benefits and administration – so far New York along with several other states has been very slow to institute changes to accomodate the federal aid. The main delay in New York was a desire to change the whole unemployment system to increase the maximum weekly benefit (currently $430) which is the lowest in the area.

These changes have not been finalized yet since the legislation now has to go the Senate floor for a full vote. Once it is passed by the legislature it has to be approved by Governor Paterson. It is expected that this will take place by the end of next week so that there will be no disruption in any unemployment insurance benefits.

Here is a quote from Senator Onorato who sponsored the bill:

“I could not be more pleased that this vital legislation, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for New York’s jobless, is now moving swiftly towards becoming law,” said Senator Onorato. “Unemployment benefits for some 56,000 jobless New York residents are slated to begin running out next week, with at least 5,000 more a week after that. Passage of this legislation will provide unemployed New Yorkers with critically needed financial assistance during very difficult economic times. This is a win-win for unemployed workers in need of aid, as well as for local economies that will benefit from the money these New Yorkers will spend on food, rent and other basic needs in their communities.”

192 replies on “New York State Extends Unemployment Benefits By 13 Weeks”

@Paul Davies: Yeah you’re right and I don’t believe many will because their feet (polical beliefs) are set in stone unfortunately, we have seen the rhetoric all over the Internet and it will intensify as the 2012 elections draws near. What I have mentioned before and asked on several occasions is to contact your representatives and the President especially these pass several months because provisions can be and still are being added to his Jobs Plan and provisions have been added that would help the long-term unemployed with paid training programs because if there are no manufacturing jobs available for those who have done this field of work for 20 years then these programs train to enter another field, there’s computer training too. Will HR 589 be considered? I know you had given up with hope. It can but they are geared towards other areas because of the Republican brick wall they have ran into and also not enough of voices yelling in their ears about those 2 Bills introduced. I ran into these training programs subsidized by the govt by accident on the Internet and googling. Its up to us as we already know, hell they haven’t even began to fight about HR 4213 yet and thats in the Jobs Plan legislation too, so should be interesting what the Republicans will add to on that because some have already said the unemployed can’t live off of unemployment benefits!!! Funny, nobody wants to we ALL just want to be employed again and making a living! Godspeed!

Pauline – thanks for sharing that video – It looks and sounds like Senator Jack Reed from RI, if I’m not mistaken. He has supported every extension, and I’m sure supported extending beyond 99 weeks. As he said, they had a hard enough time getting the entire 99 week program through without having Pres Obama break a campaign promise by extending those damn Bush Tax Cuts in exchange for extending the 99 weeks deadline for the other unemployed. I don’t think we were ignored….I think it’s realistic to think that with a Party of No which hasn’t been on board for ANY of the extensions, and voted down ANY jobs bills when the Dems had the majority, and now vote NO on the current jobs bill which they formerly supported, while introducing not ONE of their own since they gained the majority, it’s quite clear that beyone 99 weeks never had a chance – unless an Executive Order could change that – but we learned that it can’t! As long as extending UI beyond 99 weeks must go through The House and Senate, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. These GOP/Teabaggers will vote NO on everything until 2012 – and I think we all know that – and I think the rest of America might FINALLY be seeing it. Obama is not perfect, and he may not be the Socialist that some wanted, but I don’t see how I can blame HIM for not extending UI beyond 99 weeks – not when the GOP has proposed to cut all other safety net programs that help people – there is no soul in these people – they’re so worried about the deficit now, but where was their concern when GW ran up that deficit with the two unfunded wars, the Bush Tax Cuts and Medicare Part D = all not paid for? So, however people want to pin this on Obama – and although he’s disappointed in other ways, there’s no way he should be blamed for not helping us – when we got the most UI weeks in history…..If McCain/Palin has won the last election, I think many of us would be DEAD right now already……Would they have been in favor of extending UI for anymore than 26 weeks? I think not – but defintely not up to 99 weeks. Sorry Pauline, my rant is not directed at YOU, but at the GOP/Teabaggers who have killed me(us). Now, the guy who lead the polls for the GOP, is Herman Cain, who actually made the statement that people have only themselves to blame for not having a job or for not being millionaires!!! This is their leading candidate as I write this – 🙂 Peace

The Rachel Maddow show “Seperation Anxiety” The widening gap between the 1% & the 99%. VIDEO–http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45055472#4505572

@Paul Davies: AWESOME videos, like you said it good to be able to smile and forget only for a moment the crisis taking place in this country. Cain’s naivete statement about China and nuclear weapons was scary but I believe he’s be another star like Ex Senator Fred Thompson was. Everyone and keep hounding your Representatives in Congress and the Senate that the 99% will not be HIT with any more cuts, tell those asses to cut their salaries and those perks they attachment to every piece of NON jobs bill legislation sent through. Godspeed!!

There are provisions in the President’s Job Plan (Act) that are paid programs to help the LONG-TERM unemployed and we have to pound their minds to set forth more to help the 99ers. I don’t see HR 589 moving but there are other ways and training with pay and employment assistance is better than nothing. We know HR 4213 will be coming up soon and the shenanigans will began with the Republicans & Tea Party members in both houses so TELL THEM!

eCall to Extend Unemployment Insurance
http://democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=11869#Tell_Congress

Tell Us Your Story

The Committee is interested in hearing your thoughts on extending these benefits and on proposals to create new jobs, including proposals made by the President. Through this eforum we want to gather the information Congress needs to understand conditions in American communities across the nation. We welcome your comments on any of the following:

Have you or someone in your family lost a job? Are you struggling to find work or to learn new skills? Tell us your story.

How have unemployment insurance benefits affected your life? Have they helped you pay your bills or stay in your home? Tell us your story.

What kind of job training or reemployment assistance programs are in your community? Did you receive training or job search assistance? Tell us your story.

@CatD: Thanks for the posts with videos. I will be off the Internet in the next week or so because I will be moving to more reasonable digs while thanking God I have a roof over my head when so many others don’t. Hang in there and hope Paul Davies, NEW YORKER, and everyone is doing OK!!!! Hope ppl are calling their congressman and senators telling them don’t cut anymore social programs vital to the those of us who need them the most. 99ers are true Survivalists! http://helpthe99ers.blogstalk.com/

Sherri- Glad you found a place to live. You’ll be missed here! Come back to ‘4 Pillars’ soon.

I hope Paul and New Yorker check in soon.

@Everyone: Moving this Thanksgiving week and as stated will hopefully connect on the Internet soon. I wish all of you to stay strong, we have survived this long and just stay strong in FAITH riding this never-ending emotional rollercoaster. At best, I wish you all a Blessed Thanksgiving.

Nothing for 99ers but still important:
http://sanderlevin.congressnewsletter.net/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100080663.152089.568&gen=1
Time: Tuesday, November 29th at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Southfield Library
26300 Evergreen Road
Southfield, Michigan 48076
(On the Eastside of Evergreen just south of 11 Mile Rd./696)

RSVP at [email protected] or call 586-498-7122 for more information

If you can’t make it, or live outside of Michigan, please email us a picture or story at [email protected] and we will add it the Story Scroll.

Sunday 11/27 @ 9:14am
PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE! The 99ers MUST be included in this extension. This letter will be sent to your entire congressional delegation, House and Senate. Once you fill in your info, it will load all the names for you. It will also allow you to EDIT, add or delete to the letter to Congress. ALWAYS mention HR 589 when speaking or writing Congress. TAKE ACTION NOW FOR ALL UNEMPLOYED! ~Brian
http://www.unemployedworkers.org/page/speakout/renew-unemployment-insurance-2012

Cannot forget to touch base with old friends at Thanksgiving. I hope all enjoyed the day! Many hugs, Katie…hi, (Pauline)

Hope everyone is doing OK. Sherri, glad you’ll have internet access soon. Hope your move went smoothly. I remember when you moved (downsized) the last time. Hope this is the last time you’ll have to do that. Take heart everyone.
Does anyone know how Paul and New Yorker are doing?

@99ersUnited was tweeted by @RepLloydDoggett on Twitter. He responded to me regarding the push for the UI extension in DC this week. He said “Looking forward to seeing everyone there. We are fighting for all unemployed and bills pending”. PLEASE KEEP CALLING CONGRESS NOW! 1-888-245-0215 or 1-888-340-6522. #99ers push for HR 589. NON-99ers push for HR 3346. Call, tweet, email, FB post, etc…. NOW!

Hi Issa, you’re welcome, hope all is well ?

They have set up a seperate number in DC to call and fight for an unemployment extension. Call >> 1-888-245-3381 << when prompted, enter your zip code, and it will let you choose which of your House or Senate members you want to be transferred to. This line is solely for UI. CALL NOW and fight for HR 589. Ask your family and friends to help you with this.

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