Unemployment 4th extension: 20 weeks for Californians (Sacramento, Orange: 2009, insurance, credit)

[Definca]

California currently has the most unemployed workers in the nation, running out of benefits by the end of the year (154,328) who are in need of this extension. The next highest state FL has (114,508) next is NY (89,662). We also have really high unemployment (approx 12%) with a HUGE illegal population looking for work who are not even being counted! This is making it very difficult to find a job in California for those who have been laid off.


The EDD for California just posted this message on their site about NOT making 6 weeks of the 20 weeks available in the passage of the bill for all states.

This thread is for anyone in California or outside of our state, to post useful information pertaining to this subject. The objective of this thread is to make sure everyone who qualifies for the 4th UI extension recently passed on Nov 6, 2009, is allowed to receive the full 20 weeks of benefits available if needed.

New Federal Unemployment Insurance Extensions

en Español
On Friday, November 6, 2009, President Obama signed new federal legislation making further unemployment extension benefits available. The first eligible week for the new benefits is the week starting Sunday, November 8, 2009. Any time spent unemployed and without benefits before then is not covered by the new federal legislation.
Although the new extensions do provide the potential for up to 20 additional weeks of benefits for higher unemployment states, including California, it’s likely six weeks of those benefits won’t be available due to pending federal filing deadlines at the end of the year.
The new extensions set new records for benefit weeks available in a federal extension program and will require complex programming to implement. EDD is working around the clock to ensure payments can be made as quickly as possible. It’s currently estimated that will take several weeks.
In the meantime, there is no need to contact EDD. We will be contacting potentially eligible claimants and notifying them of developments. Once programming is in place, we will follow up with further instructions and automatically file the extensions for as many of our clients as possible. We may also need to contact some clients at that time and request further information. Please watch this Web site for further updates.

[Definca]

Additional info on this topic:

The source of the confusion lies in the wording of the three extensions totaling 20 weeks in the final bill that passed:

It adds 1 week to Tier II benefits.
It creates Tier III benefits of 13 weeks length.
It creates Tier IV benefits of 6 weeks length.

All three of these Tiers are still subject to the year-end 2009 deadline of the original legislation.

The new law still requires that you complete one tier before you go on to the others.

If one claims the extra week for Tier II and then begins Tier III at this time, it is a physical impossibility to complete those 14 weeks (Tier II/1 week + Tier III/13 weeks) before the December 31, 2009 deadline -- thus rendering everyone ineligible for Tier IV (which cannot be started before year-end 2009 if you must complete Tier III first).

Some states have decided to credit claimants' accounts for the full 20 weeks at once. Other states fear that would not meet the requirements of the law.

This "snag" is one reason why experts believe that it continues to be the intent of Congress to change the expiration date of the original EUC legislation to which the new law adds the new extensions.

For reference, read the text of the final bill that was signed into law, and google how different states are applying it.

[Definca]

(article copied from Few eligible for the full 20-week jobless extension - Handling Hard Times : The Orange County Register)





Few eligible for the full 20-week jobless extension

November 5th, 2009, 7:36 am · 74 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

(Update 12:43 p.m.: Gather.com reports the House passed the unemployment extension this afternoon on a 403-12 vote. President Barack Obama is set to sign it on Friday, Nov. 6.)
Few, if any, unemployed people will be able to get the full 20-week extension in jobless benefits because Congress delayed so long and failed to change a sunset provision, says a California Employment Development Department official.
As a result, most Californians — an estimated 285,000 long-term unemployed — will be able to qualify for only an additional 14 weeks of benefits, says Loree Levy, an EDD spokeswoman.
The legislation, which was approved by the House today, provides 14 weeks of additional benefits to all states. Those states with a jobless rate over 8.5% — California's is 12.2% — get up to 20 more weeks.
But instead of simply tacking on the additional weeks in one new extension, the bill sets up a Byzantine plan that adds two new extensions to the two previous ones before the last extension, referred to as FedEd, kicks in.
Congress previously extended FedEd from 13 weeks to 20 weeks, but included a sunset provision for the end of the year. If Congress doesn't change that provision, FedEd will revert to 13 weeks on Jan. 1.
So even if a person could start collecting on the latest extension today, the calendar will run out before that person can get all 20 weeks of benefits. As currently written, they will get one additional week for the second extension and, because their unemployment will carry into next year, 13 weeks of FedEd, for a maximum of 14 weeks.
"A lot of false expectations may be created at the end of the year," Levy says.
Here's how the new law divvies up unemployment extensions and the order in which they are paid, according to Levy:

• Basic unemployment: 26 weeks
• First extension: 20 weeks
• Second extension: now 14 weeks (the new bill added a week)
• Third extension (new): 13 weeks
• Fourth extension (new): 6 weeks
• FedEd: 20 weeks now (13 weeks after Jan. 1)

The changes make for a reprogramming nightmare for EDD's computer system. In addition, so many people have exhausted their benefits — an estimated 66,000 in September alone — that EDD is going to have to recalculate thousands of claims to determine eligibility.
Levy says EDD will contact everyone who may be eligible for the latest extension, however, it will be "several weeks" before any checks will go out.

[Screw Sacramento]

Originally Posted by Definca

California currently has the most unemployed workers in the nation, running out of benefits by the end of the year (154,328) who are in need of this extension. The next highest state FL has (114,508) next is NY (89,662). We also have really high unemployment (approx 12%) with a HUGE illegal population looking for work who are not even being counted! This is making it very difficult to find a job in California for those who have been laid off.

Wow I knew we were bad, I didn't know we were that bad. I thought we were still behind MI (Detroit) and NV.

[Definca]

Correct, CA is behind MI, (15.3%), NV (13.3%), RI (13.0) and then California at (12.2%).

However, with respect to population or the state with the highest number of unemployed and those who have run out of benefits we tip the scale.

Total exhaustion's through Dec 2009

CA - 154,328
MI - 62,753
NV - 14,135
RI - 4,483

FL - 114.508
NY - 89,662
OH - 64.545

When you add in the illegal population looking for work in CA we have some really high numbers that are not even showing.

[Screw Sacramento]

Originally Posted by Definca

When you add in the illegal population looking for work in CA we have some really high numbers that are not even showing.

That's a good point. Being as we border Mexico (whereas MI doesn't) we have a whole different populace to consider in terms of competition.

[native56]

I simply do not get it. California is in such dire straits and there is no action from Sacramento to help. It is proven that tax incentives promote business (at least JFK thought so) and a reduction in reagulations and some tort reform would be a big shot in the arm for California's businesses. I'm sure I'm missing some important things Sacramento could do to actually get business moving.

But instead they fool around with CO2 laws and spend their time doling out hand-outs. What will it take to shake things up with the lawmakers?

[Screw Sacramento]

Originally Posted by native56

But instead they fool around with CO2 laws and spend their time doling out hand-outs. What will it take to shake things up with the lawmakers?

Honestly? When enough people leave because they're fed up enough and the "pool" of candidates to tax becomes slim, then they might notice. Then again, maybe not.

[machoenergy]

So let me get this straight...in order to receive the full 20 weeks of unemployment extension in California, we are dependent upon Congress which "delayed so long and failed to change a sunset provision..." to actually revisit this before year end and change the sunset clause that ends 12/31? If this is the case should we all be hounding Feinstein, Boxer & Harry Reid to ensure that they indeed do revisit this and have new legislation in place before year end?

[machoenergy]

Here is what I am writing to Harry Reid, et al.

First thanks for finally passing the unemployment extension. However, there are problems with it and I hope that the Senate can find time before year end to ensure that Californians are eligible for the full 20 weeks. According to Loree Levy of Ca EDD, "Congress previously extended FedEd from 13 weeks to 20 weeks, but included a sunset provision for the end of the year. If Congress doesn't change that provision, FedEd will revert to 13 weeks on Jan. 1."

So even if a person could start collecting on the latest extension today, the calendar will run out before that person can get all 20 weeks of benefits. As currently written, they will get one additional week for the second extension and, because their unemployment will carry into next year, 13 weeks of FedEd, for a maximum of 14 weeks.

"A lot of false expectations may be created at the end of the year," Levy says.

I know that the Senate will be spending the majority of their time for the rest of the year with the health care bill with a lot of filibustering by the Republicans.

Please find time to ensure that Californians who need it have access to the full 20 weeks. This is a huge portion of the long term unemployed in this country.

Thanks for your attention to this matter.