DECEMBER 3, 2009 ISSUE
Unemployment Benefits Extended For Some
On Friday, November 6, President Barack Obama signed into law The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, formerly The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 (H.R.3548).
As a result, according to www.opencongress.org, unemployed citizens of almost all states will be eligible for extended unemployment benefits for 14 weeks after their original unemployment benefits are exhausted, and citizens of states with an unemployment rate at or above 8.5 percent—such as North Carolina—can receive an extra six weeks of benefits after those 14 weeks of benefits are exhausted.
Funded by stimulus dollars, the law extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008 (EUC08) through December 31, adding potential third and fourth tiers of benefits to the previous two tiers of EUC08.
The First and Second Tiers
EUC08 benefits went into effect in July 2008.
According to www.ncesc.com, after regular unemployment benefits are exhausted, EUC08 benefits can pay a maximum of 80 percent of the recipient’s original eligibility. For example, if a person was originally eligible for unemployment benefits of $300 per week for 20 weeks, the EUC08 eligibility would be $300 per week for up to 16 weeks.
If the original EUC08 benefits are exhausted and the state unemployment rate is six percent or greater, the recipient may be eligible for the second tier of EUC08 benefits.
Second Tier EUC08 benefits can pay a maximum amount of 50 percent of the original unemployment eligibility. For example, if a person was originally eligible for unemployment benefits of $300 per week for 20 weeks, the Second Tier EUC08 eligibility would be $300 per week for up to 10 weeks.
What the Additional Extensions Mean
North Carolina’s unemployment rate increased to 11 percent in October, according to statistics released on November 20 by the N.C. Employment Security Commission (NCESC).
The federal extensions of unemployment benefits bring the total number of weeks in which a North Carolinian could potentially receive unemployment benefits to 99, which is “by far the maximum number of weeks I’ve heard of if they’re not [in a special program],” said Andy James, director of public information for the NCESC.
“It’s good news for people who are unemployed, but the sunset date needs to be changed quickly,” James said of the December 31 deadline, so that those who qualify can receive those benefits.
“The deadline is something Congress needs to change,” he said. “I think the nation is coming out of the recession, but we’re not going to be out of it by January 1.”
From what the NCESC office has been able to determine, 200,000 to 300,000 North Carolinians who are potentially eligible for the extensions may not be able to receive them if the deadline is not changed, James added.
If a person is in the middle of the 14-week extension when December 31 comes, for example, “my boss thinks the benefits would stop,” James said.
“We hope they could continue [receiving all the weeks of benefits],” James said, but at present, it is not clear if the person could receive the full 14 weeks of benefits or just however many weeks they would have until December 31 arrives (a maximum of five, as of press time).
However, a person in the middle of a 14-week extension as of December 31 definitely could not apply for the subsequent six-week extension, even if they could finish out the 14 weeks of receiving the benefits, because the December 31 sunset date would have passed.
James encouraged people to “call their congressman in D.C. and let them know they feel like the date needs to be extended. That’s what I would do if I was in that situation.”
Once the EUC08 program ends, the only extension possibly available to unemployed North Carolinians is the state’s Extended Benefits program.
This is a rolling program that goes into effect any time that the state’s unemployment exceeds six percent in a given three-month period, but is “not nearly as beneficial” as government extensions, James said.
“If you’re unemployed and there is no extension there to help you, it’s a tough place to be in,” James said. “I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”
The ESC office is known for being the payor of unemployment insurance, but can also help people find jobs, James said.
“We are a resource I hope people remember in times like this,” James said, adding that there are 89 offices across the state.
For more information, click to www.ncesc.com.
The text of The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 can be viewed by clicking to www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h3548/text.
Getting Back to Work in the High Country
According to a press release, the N.C. Division of Workforce Development, the Rural Center, the ASU Center for Entrepreneurship and JobLink have partnered together to implement a number of programs to connect people with help and to get folks back to work.
“The Division of Workforce Development [has] rolled out a statewide initiative to connect North Carolina families with a variety of resources, including foreclosure help, discounted food, free prescription medication and assistance with preparing resumes and completing applications for financial aid,” said Workforce Director Carole Coates.
“In terms of training, all of our community colleges have rolled out their JobsNOW 12-in-Six programs that provide intensive training in high-growth career fields and work readiness skills that students can complete in six months or less,” Coates continued. “Many of these programs focus on green jobs and healthcare, two fields that have excellent long-term job potential. In fact…Vice President Joe Biden [recently] released the Recovery Through Retrofit report that calls for eliminating the barriers that have until now kept the home energy efficiency retrofit market small. And with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding we have received, Workforce Investment Act money is available to pay for training.
“The Employment Security Commission is offering weekly employability classes at the JobLink Career Centers. These one-on-one classes are designed to help people polish their resumes, expand their job search and practice answering interview questions before they go for an interview,” added Coates.
For more information or to view the 12-in-Six programs, click to www.recoveryinthehighcountry.com and click to adult services.
The Boone ESC office provides a number of services to help people get back to work, including helping people with resumes and cover letters, said Charlie Anderson, an employment consultant with the office.
For more information, click to www.ncesc.com or call the local office at 828-265-5385.
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