Clarification regarding the Unemployment Tiers | Senate Must Act Now!

February 2, 2010 – There is an extreme amount of confusion and worry regarding the unemployment compensation benefits both, regular and emergency extensions. The main point of confusion is due to the wishy-washy behavior regarding pending legislation in part, if not in whole, via Republican Party’s firm stance of seeing both this administration and economy fail. The logic behind this, as extremely stupid as it is since, the Republican party got the U.S. into this mess in the first place is, that if the Republican party steadfastly opposes everything this administration attempts to do, to help the U.S. economy, matters will get worse, and the Republican party will win the White House in 2012. Mind you, that would signal the end of this once great nation for good.

Back on track, several syndicated papers have excellent articles explaining the current crisis for the American unemployed however, since the AP is out to sue just about anyone that uses more than three words of their articles, I will reference this article straight from the source, the Labor Department.

Here’s how the extensions work, mind you what you hear from most people regarding that there are 99 weeks of available unemployment only applies to those laid-off in 2008 or earlier. The “Tiers”:

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier I allows for up to 20 additional weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier II allows for up to 14 additional weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier III allows for up to 13 additional weeks
• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Tier IV allows for up to 6 additional weeks

Here’s the catch: Under the latest extension, Unemployed Americans must have exhausted all available state/regular benefits on or before February 20, 2010 to establish Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier I.

After that, Unemployed Americans must have exhausted Tier I, II, or III before February 27, 2010 to be eligible for the next tier. It becomes even more confusing, after July 31, 2010 no matter what “Tier” you are on, ALL benefits are exhausted for, the program ends.

For the unfortunate millions of Americans that have become unemployed after August 18th, 2009 they are NOT eligible for any extensions at this time. The rest is fairly simple:

• If you were unfortunate enough to lose your job between April 7, 2009 and August 17, 2009 you are eligible for “Tier I” remembering that, as it stands, any and all emergency benefits will expire after July 31, 2010.
• Those unfortunate Americans that lost their jobs between January 5, 2009 and April 6, 2009 and exhaust their 20 weeks of “Tier I” before February 28, 2010 will be eligible for “Tier II”. Once again remembering that all benefits under the emergency plan expire July 31, 2010
• Tier III, an Unemployed American must have lost their job, and applied for Unemployment Insurance before January 5, 2009 and have exhausted all their “Tier I, and Tier II” benefits before February 28, 2010 (a total of 33 weeks) will be eligible to collect an additional 13 weeks under the “Tier III” plan.
• Tier IV, for those that have exhausted Tiers I, II, and III on or before February 28, 2010 and again, must be exhausted (used) before July 31, 2010.

Now, most states had offered Extended Benefit plans, those plans applied to those that lost their employment on or before Monday, September 8, 2008, and exhausted their 33 weeks of Emergency benefits on or before November 2009.

The real issue here is, if you have become unemployed after August 27, 2009, you are NOT eligible for any extended benefits.

The “Extended Benefits” programs do vary from state to state however, most states have exhausted all their funding for any similar relief for unemployed Americans, and are waiting for Federal Assistance with their unemployed American workers.

Therefore, for those of you unemployed, or those that have friends and/or family members that have been hit hard by this total economic crisis caused by 8 years of terribly flawed Republican Party economic policy, it is imperative that you contact your Congressional leaders now (particularly your U.S. Senator(s) for the bill is now stalled in the Senate), and request help, it is that simple.

As for you Republicans out there receiving the short end of this stick, and you are actually thinking of still supporting the GOP, well what can I say, you must enjoy being poor, and are happy with the thoughts of retiring in a tent city eating cat food until you depart this planet.

Any questions regarding this information, you may contact the Editor at WorldNewsVine or check your individual states labor department home page for further updates.

God help and bless Americans, for you know for damn certain the GOP won’t.

Posted by Jim Alexander on February 2, 2010. Filed under economic recovery,National News,News,Opinion Editorial,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.