President Obama has authorized yet another round of extended unemployment benefits, by signing the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009.
The House of Representatives initially passed the Act as the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 (Bill H.R.3548), but the Senate modified and renamed it. Both the Senate and House then passed the renamed Act as an amendment to the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008.
Among other things, the new Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 authorizes extended unemployment benefits (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) for 14 additional weeks in all states, plus an extra 6 weeks in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher.
Eligible unemployed workers in about half of the states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are entitled to the extra 6 weeks of extended unemployment benefits, for a total of 20 weeks.
To become eligible for extended unemployment benefits, unemployed workers must first exhaust 26 weeks (or the equivalent) of standard state unemployment benefits. To become eligible for further extensions (such as this round), unemployed workers must first exhaust previously-authorized extended unemployment benefits. Other eligibility requirements apply.
If you’ve exhausted your 26 weeks of standard state benefits or when you are close to doing so, then the state unemployment office will likely notify you that you might be eligible for extended unemployment benefits (Emergency Unemployment Compensation). The same goes if you’ve instead exhausted your previously-authorized extended unemployment benefits or are close to doing so.
Even though notified, unemployed workers still might have to confirm their eligibility for extended unemployment benefits by filing official claims. The weekly compensation amount for extended benefits is the same as for standard benefits, which varies by state and eligibility.
To file a claim, follow the instructions provided by the unemployment office. If you didn’t receive specific instructions, then contact the nearest state unemployment office or full-service One-Stop Career Center to file your claim, or file it electronically over the Internet. Most state unemployment office Web sites (linked above) have online facilities for filing claims over the Internet and many encourage the method.
This round of extended unemployment benefits is not likely to be immediately available in your work state, as it takes time for the U.S. Department of Labor to distribute the funds. If you’re anxious to know, keep an eye on the Web site of the state unemployment office or One-Stop Career Center for an announcement regarding extended unemployment benefits or Emergency Unemployment Compensation.
The Stimulus Act (economic stimulus law or Recovery Act) provides a 65 percent COBRA subsidy to help eligible unemployed workers continue their employer-provided group health insurance benefits. The Act also provides additional unemployment benefits of significance, including Emergency Unemployment Compensation through 2009 for workers who have yet to claim or exhaust extended unemployment benefits.
As for the “other things” mentioned above, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 also extends and expands the stimulus first-time homebuyer tax credit, and provides tax relief for businesses by way of a net operating-loss carryback option. The business tax relief is to encourage hiring and reduce the need for extended unemployment benefits in 2010.
