On May 12, the Senate finance committee voted and unanimously approved changes to legislation which will extend benefits to unemployed New Yorkers. There are approximately 120,000 unemployed people in New York currently receiving benefits which will run out before the end of May. These changes will extend the benefits by 13 weeks which result in a total of 72 weeks.
New York was given $645 million in federal stimulus package money to spend on unemployment benefits and administration – so far New York along with several other states has been very slow to institute changes to accomodate the federal aid. The main delay in New York was a desire to change the whole unemployment system to increase the maximum weekly benefit (currently $430) which is the lowest in the area.
These changes have not been finalized yet since the legislation now has to go the Senate floor for a full vote. Once it is passed by the legislature it has to be approved by Governor Paterson. It is expected that this will take place by the end of next week so that there will be no disruption in any unemployment insurance benefits.
Here is a quote from Senator Onorato who sponsored the bill:
“I could not be more pleased that this vital legislation, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for New York’s jobless, is now moving swiftly towards becoming law,” said Senator Onorato. “Unemployment benefits for some 56,000 jobless New York residents are slated to begin running out next week, with at least 5,000 more a week after that. Passage of this legislation will provide unemployed New Yorkers with critically needed financial assistance during very difficult economic times. This is a win-win for unemployed workers in need of aid, as well as for local economies that will benefit from the money these New Yorkers will spend on food, rent and other basic needs in their communities.”
Unemployment benefit information for other states
Florida unemployment benefits extension - 20 more weeks.
Will New York add 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits?
New York extends unemployment benefits by 13 weeks
Will Tennessee add 20 weeks of unemployment benefit extension?
Ohio unemployment benefits extension - 13 more weeks
Texas Unemployment Benefits Extension - 13 more weeks
Unemployment benefits extended in 2009 stimulus package.
Bill H3548 - 13 week extension for high unemployment states.
Kentucky Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
Illinois Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
Michigan Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
California Unemployment Benefits Extension - 20 more weeks.
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otto, thanks for posting that amazingly out of touch letter from Senator Jon Kyl(R-AZ). It’s legislators with that mind-set who we will be up against. I think even though individually there might be some Republicans who feel differently, I truly believe that’s the general sentiment of the Republican Party. It’s been that way since the Reagan years. I remember reading very similar comments, as I was stuck in the middle during that recession as well. One of the great bills passed using that mentality was for the first time in history
impose taxation of Unemployment Benefits. I don’t quite know the full purpose, but think part of it was to discourage people from staying on UI as long as they could. This time though, I think we are a larger part of the population, we have the Internet which is a powerful tool in getting our message across, and come March 28, we will be a very desperate and angrier group than back in the previous recessions. This is the kind of slum-lord mentality that would say to a tenant whose toilet was broken to sh#@t in a bucket!
Paul post 32
I agree with you Paul…we are all in a tough position..however it boggles the mind when you think that our Govt will let millions of us just go homeless … when deep down inside I am sure they can find the money to fund a Tier V ..I don’t like taking this money any more than the next guy but the truth is the job market hasn’t improved at all…and the longer we go without employment the tougher it is to find someone to hire you. Maybe they should just try and revamp the whole system…
Arent we suppose to find out more this coming week regarding what they might be doing to help the 99 weekers?
Below is a new site that is focused on nothing but the Tier V Extension:
http://tier5.webs.com/
FRANKC THANKS FOR THE LINK!
U R Welcome SUSANNY.
frankc, kudos for posting the link to a site designed for people like us. I think with the power of the Internet, and the number of Americans who will exhaust all benefits by March 28th, we have a better chance of reaching the most people possible regarding of our situation and what the facts really are.
Just as the Internet helped this President organize a Grassroots movement. so too can it help get out our message, along with contacting the media. Thanks to Pauline for providing all those media contacts. I had to laugh though when I saw Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity on the list, as I hardly think they would ever support us or even mention our situation on their shows. They are in the Jon Kyl school of thinking. There are plenty of other contacts on that list who will listen and might tell our stories.
Please continue calling/writing Congress on adding tier5 (99ers)
FIND AND WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES!!!
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Toll-free Capital switch-board:
1-866-220-0044
Direct phone numbers:
S. Debbie Stabenow – (202) 224-4822
S. Harry Reid – (202) 224-3542
S. Charles Schumer – (202) 224-6542
S. Kirsten Gillibrand – (202) 224-4451
ALL SENATORS…here’s the link for all contact info ~
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?Name=Schumer&nState=NY
Media ~ this guy seem to have a firm grip on our situation (99 weekers) – WRITE HIM!!!
Bob Herbert – bobherb@nytimes.com
Media contacts:
http://www.thefreespeechzone.net/html/media_contacts.html
It seem that we are getting conflicting responses when calling the various senators as Miss K also noted, but please do not let this be a deterrence to not inquiring further and letting your voices be heard.
Also, please show support for S. Reid’s wife and daughter when calling his office. He has been very good to us.
Most decent size cities have community access tv and radio. Also, independent (Indy) media outlets. Get the word out there, that NO jobs are to be had, even after 2 yrs! It’s like congress is saying ok now there are jobs, and go out and get one?
Here’s another good article about the ONE segment of the 16+ Million unemployed that was left out of HR 4213 including the amendments. http://tiny.cc/TuhK8
Thanks Paul…..we can’t give up….
H.R. 2847 (Jobs Hire Act) is being worked on and all signs point to the bill coming up for a vote before the spring break. This could be the vehicle we need to facilitate creating an amendment for a tier 5 extension ASAP. It’s Friday, let’s make the calls, send the faxes and e-mails. No matter where it is placed, let our elected Men and Women know we need a tier 5 extension allowing for benefits for those that have, or are about to exhaust all previous extensions BEFORE THE SPRING BREAK.
Paul, post #1:
Kyl was responding to a NY Times piece by Paul Krugman. I wrote to Krugman explaining the situation with the 99 weekers. If he gets a considerable amount of email supporting our cause, he may publicize it. In addition, it negates Kyl’s theory of creating complacency.
Paul Krugman: krugman@nytimes.com
The paid vacation theory holds no weight in a recession of this magnitude. Even when the unemployment rate was at normal levels the NYS DOL required claimants to go on arranged interviews after a given amount of weeks on an initial claim. If you refused the interview, you could no longer claim benefits. You also received intermittent time sensitive paperwork to submit.
question, when we do exhaust our tier 4 soon do we keep claiming anyways after? or I guess it doesn’t matter, we’ve exhausted all 99 weeks
thoughts?
John.. I doubt the option/button will be there for us 99 week people to keep claiming.. BUT if it is still there then keep claiming, it can’t hurt.
cant the senate just add an amendment for extra weeks for us 99ers to the bill that the house is reviewing now (that’s gonna take everyone else to 99 weeks & the end of 2010)???? Seems simple enough! We should ask!
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/a/unempextension.htm
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