So what's the deal on the unemployment extension?

[Sub Atomic]

Unfortunately, I'm one of the currently unemployed.

But thanks to the New Republican Math™ in less than 7 weeks I'll be officially "employed" even though I haven't found a job.


I haven't been paying attention very closely (I know.. :spank: ) but I thought I heard that it had been included into a bill that had been passed by the House.

Sorry if I'm completely off base here, I've been concentrating more on trying to find a job than things political.

Does anyone know what the deal is with the unemployment extension?

:toast:

[Orrex]

1. Here's how it works

1. If they extend unemployment, we'll get a clearer picture of the actual number of people unemployed, instead of the rosy 4.5% we've been seeing. So you know that ain't gonna happen.

2. Corporations will be required to foot their portion of the bill for longer periods per employee. So you know that ain't gonna happen, either.


Believe me, I sympathize with you, since I number among the unemployed at the moment myself.

[Bozita]

2. Senate is gonna block it.

So fucking sad.

[Bozita]

3. oops, ... this is 5 hours old: Q&A on proposed jobless benefits extension

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8cRWu3zPyTg_tsfOmlFvWxUnFPQD91DDUUO0

Q&A on proposed jobless benefits extension

By JESSE J. HOLLAND – 5 hours ago

Congress has added an extension of unemployment benefits to a bill that would fund Iraq war operations. What will this mean for unemployed Americans?
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Q: Who gets unemployment benefits?
A: An unemployment benefit check can be obtained by workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own and meet other eligibility requirements. Workers can get up to 26 weeks of benefits.
The Labor Department reported 17.3 million claims for unemployment benefits between March 2007-08. The department announced Thursday 381,000 people filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, a slight drop from the earlier week.
Q: How much do Americans get in unemployment benefits?
A: Benefits are based on a percentage of a person's earnings, so it is different for everyone. The average weekly unemployment benefit check is $299.14. The highest weekly state check is Hawaii's $404.39, and the lowest is $178.67 in Mississippi.
Q: How many people are close to exhausting their unemployment benefits in the United States?
A: The Labor Department reports that 732,710 exhausted their 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in January, February and March. If that rate continues, 2.9 million Americans will have lost their unemployment checks by the end of the year.
(The Labor Department reported 2.7 million people exhausted their benefits between March 2007-08.)
Q: What did congressional Democrats want to do?
A: Democrats wanted to give an extra 13 weeks of unemployment benefit checks to all unemployed Americans who exhausted their regular 26 weeks. States with high unemployment (6 percent or more) would also get an extra 13 weeks of checks.
The White House threatened to veto that legislation, saying it would prefer giving extra unemployment checks only to states with high unemployment rates.
Q: What was the compromise?
A: The compromise will allow all unemployed Americans to get an extra 13 weeks of unemployment benefits after they exhaust their regular 26 weeks of unemployment checks.
Q: What were the changes?
A: The provision giving additional unemployment benefits to high unemployment states was eliminated. Added was a requirement making people work for 20 weeks before drawing unemployment checks.
Democrats say that will keep 10 percent of the unemployed from drawing benefits. But Republicans said leaving it out would allow people to work for days and then get months of unemployment benefits.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: Lawmakers expect the extra unemployment assistance to cost the country $12.5 billion over two years.