What you need to know about the unemployment extension

The last few weeks have been a brutal time to be unemployed.   Many people watched their benefits stop because the unemployment extension was filibustered in the Senate, (who then went on VACATION for two weeks leaving the unemployed high and dry).   For those who didn't lose their benefits immediately, it was a nailbiting time as they worried how much longer they'd have money coming in.   Of course, for the 99ers, it was just another day in what has become their sad new reality.

The Senate will vote AGAIN today and from the looks of things, the bill will finally pass the Senate.   If this happens (once Obama signs it), here's what it means:



 - If your unemployments benefits lapsed over the last month and due to the failure of the Senate to act (meaning if you were on an original claim or tiers I - III) then you will be retroactively paid for the weeks missed and be on whatever the next tier is.   Your benefits will last until November or you exhaust tier IV/EB in your state (which ever comes first)

- If you are on a tier (or 26 week original claim) that is set to expire before November (with the exception of tier IV) you will most likely receive the next tier but will still lose benefits in November (no matter how many weeks are left on your current tier)

- If you are on or nearing the end of tier IV, you may qualify for EB which varies in length and is not available in all states.   Since EB (Extended Benefits) is different from state to state, please check the dept of labor website for the state you live in.

- If you are nearing the end of tier IV in a state without EB, nearing the end of EB, or are a 99er - you will receive nothing from this bill.  

Obviously, this bill NEEDS to pass.  However, this isn't going to solve the problem - will it put out the emergency that the Senate's screw up created earlier this month? Yes.   However, unemployment rates won't be much lower in November than they are right now.   In fact, it's very likely that we could see something much worse than what happened this time - particularly if any attempt to extend benefits into 2011 gets blocked (as it seems to be pre-destined to.)

The number of 99ers is growing every day.  Even the best economic scholars admit that it's going to take a few more YEARS before the unemployment numbers drop.  We have to do something with all of these people.   We can not have a growing class of angry, desperate people in society.  I've discussed at length before and will again why that's not good for ANY of us.   Even if today's vote is in our favor we still need to move forward and march on now more than ever.