Part of Obama’s 2009 stimulus package was extra funding for states to extend the length of unemployment benefits if necessary. Most states have a fixed number of weeks available for benefits but can increase the number of weeks if the economic climate is bad enough. This is usually measured by the unemployment rate.
The unemployment rate in Tennesse was 9.9% for April 2009 which is up from 6.0% in April of last year. This is the highest unemployment rate in 25 years. Tennesse has qualified for $141 million to pay for extended benefits as well as upgrades to the benefit infrastructure.
What unemployment benefits are available now?
Currently Tennessee will pay benefits for 26 weeks which is the normal payout period. There is another 33 weeks which is available because of the 2009 stimulus package for a total of 59 weeks.
Unemployed workers can get up to $275 per week in benefits plus a bonus $25 a week from the federal government for a total of $300 per week.
Will the unemployment benefits be extended by another 20 weeks?
[edit - please note that this bill has been passed]
Currently there is a bill called HB 2324 which if passed will increase benefits by up to 20 weeks. If the claimant has any children the bill will also add on $15 per week per child up to 3 kids. This bill has not been made law yet but you can check on the status of the bill here. At the moment (May 22) it says that it is scheduled for the Finance, Means and Ways committe for May 27. This bill was first introduced on Feb 26 so it is taking a long time.
Once the bill is passed by the FMW committee then it will go to the house and senate and lastly the governor.
There is a very good chance that unemployment benefits will be extended by 20 weeks however the slow machine of politics means that it might take a while.
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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thanks bill ,best of luck to you also
Mr. Partlow, it’s so nice to see you here ! I have 2 weeks or less on EB. When I begin T3 do I have to apply, or is there now an automatic transition? Just wondering what to expect. I know that everyone just feels as helpless as me, and to everyone whose job went out of the country, there seems to be less hope every week. Thank you for not giving up on this site and giving us the answers we sometimes are desperately searching for. Thank you so much, Sir.
KateY,
I had asked Mr. Partlow the same question about the transition from EB to Tier 3, and he said the transition would be automatic. I also have 2 weeks of EB remaining after this weeks check.
Lisa,
Your story about snoring is amazing. I doubt that there are many people (if any) who don’t occasionally snore! Surely, they won’t deny you employment for that reason alone, when you are otherwise healthy!
Lisa,
Get a second opinion (i.e. – go see another doctor) very likely you’ll get the proper length DOT card. My guess is the first doctor has more interest in referral commissions than health care. Be upfront with second doc about the first taking your “joke” about the snoring too serious. Now, I’m not implying that sleep apnea isn’t to be taken seriously but there is a world of difference between apnea and common snoring. This is just my opinion and not meant to replace that of a true medical doctor who should always have the patient’s best interests in mind.
Lisa,
I am not an attorney, but I would have to think there is something discriminatory there……..you may want to discuss this with your local free Legal Aid
My Tennessee ECU Tier I expires April 9th 2010. Can i still collect benefis after this date ?
Thanks so much Lynn in TN for your answer. Have a good Monday…raining again!
Congratulations Lisa, just keep your nose clean (ha) and things will be good.
Lisa, First Credit Checks can keep you from getting a job and now snoring it crazy. Now I am not going to tell no lies but I have add Sleep Apnea for the last 7 years so I guess in todays job market I am screwed. The thing is that with the correct treatment it presents no challenges that should prevent you from getting any type of Job.
We are still working and praying that things open up for those of you on Tier 4. Kipster
Lisa’s story reminds me, sadly, of a similar situation I encountered . . . I had interviewed for a job which seemed to be created solely for my talents and abilities and the interviewer was so excited to have found someone so quickly who was as well qualified. One of the “steps of the process” was a survey which we’ve all probably seen many times — a psychological evaluation of sorts where you answer questions, most of them several times but worded slightly different each time, about how you’d respond to hypothetical ethics and morality situations. The answers are so obvious you’d have to be numb above the neck not to be able to answer them “correctly”, right? Well, apparently I answered something “wrong” because I was curtly told that I failed on some part and would not be selected for the job. I was not allowed to know what the actual results were and could not ask for more information. I certainly appreciate the intent of tests like this . . . no one wants to hire a loony who’s going to steal from them but not being allowed to know “how” you failed an arbitrary test which prevents you from obtaining a job should be illegal. It’s too easy to use tests like these to give “justified” backup to what may only be personal bias or some other violation of employment law. I know my posts must seem like I’m just this persistent negative guy who thinks everything is against him but when you’ve been fired for no reason and can’t find a job due to corrupt practices that businesses are allowed to get away with calling it selective hiring it certainly makes you feel a bit crazy and look for assassins in every shadow. My point is, eventually we must start to say “NO, YOU CAN’T DO THAT” or things will not get better anytime soon. To quote a long missed Dennis Miller, “that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.”
Thanks for all the feedback guys ,however I just heardback from my boss to be.lol she said that i would have to have the sleep apnea test done before i would be hired ,needless to say i have no insurance and it is very costly and i am pretty sure my unemployment will not stretch that far with my monthly bills,so she told methey would have to consider someone else for the position….go figure.oh well life goes on i guess…….
thanks all
Lisa,
Since I have been unemployed, I have been nearly employed many times. I have had places go out of business after they interviewed me, also have had the person that interviewed me for one job that was apparently fired after he interviewed me and he had pretty well told me that I had the job.
GOD is in control of my life and apparently these places were not in his plan for me. He won’t let you go. If you trust and believe, you will be taken care of.
GOD bless,
Tonya
Lisa was this some sort of driving job? I didn’t know they required a sleep apnea test these days. I have heard of people with sleep apnea who suddenly fall asleep without warning. My stepson was just hired by a large company and was required to get a physical but they paid for it. I understand a sleep study costs between 2 and 4 thousand dollars but even if you could afford it you might be disqualified from the job if it was determined you had sleep apnea.
Author: lisa
Comment:
hi guys
let me tell u a good one ….I went for an interview with TDOT…lol i got the job,iwas sent for my DOT Physical ..Passed it fine then the doctor asked me if i snore ..lol I laughed and said my hubby says I do.then he left the room he came back and said he would give me the Dot card for 3 months instead of a year because I needed to go for a Sleep Apnea Study ..OMG am I po”edI may not get this job because of a slight joke and a decision of a Dr I have never seen before.So much for finding a job And I am a very healthy person……..So what do guys think about that?
Lisa, Where are you at. In some cities they have Project Access for people who don’t have health insurance. I do have a problem with Sleep Apena and a few other Sleep Disorders but it has never held me back from getting a job and I have always been honest when that question was asked, there is one medication that if you take you can live a normal life. I don’t know but I would get a second Dr. to verify you have sleep apena, dang millions of people snore and don’t have sleep apena, Sorry you have to go theough this. Kipster
Lisa,
What I’m about to say should not be construed as legal, medical, or any other type of advice but I believe you ARE being discriminated against with this employer. Unless you’re willing to just let it go, you should contact someone at your local paper(s) or one of the news stations to “politely insist” they hear your story. Do you believe you have sleep apnea? If any part of you feels the answer is NO, you should not let this lie. Granted, throwing a spotlight on the situation will not get you hired any quicker but it will prevent TDOT, maybe, from thinking they can just get away with something like this. Again, this is my personal opinion and should not be confused as anything but such. I’ll say again, sooner or later we have to stand up and say “NO, YOU CAN’T DO THAT!”
Colbertnotion: Do you have any information on unemployment in the state of TN?
testing
Wonder: What are you testing?
TIER V TO SURVIVE
http://tier5.webs.com/apps/forums/topics/show/2262436-phone-campaign-to-begin-on-monday-3-15-please-join-us-
Site just for the long term extensions please share any info from here and can get info from there as well.We need to all be on the same page and link our resources and fight together.
Hi there,
I hope someone can help me work this math. I’m currenty on Tier 3. My last stub shows NXT WED: 03/13/10. I’m assuming WED is week ending date. The balance shown is $687. I get the full $275 per week.
I’m trying to figure out if the Tier 3 I’m on will end before the April 3rd cutoff date and if I will should transition to Tier 4.
Can anyone help me with this? This is so tough on all of us.
Thanks!
Memphis, Today the kids from UT and Roane State are making calls agian asking our Senatos to do the right thing and support a New Tier 5 or add weeks to Tier 4 which our the ideas going around now in Washington. We have to make it known that this is URGENT and they can not ignore this matter.
Now Lisa’s problem is part of the Unemployment problem and well as credit scores. If you can be denied a job based on those two things then the unemployment number will never change. I think for some of us who have been unemployed are Credit Scores reflect that. If being denied a job based on Credit Score or Snoring that is a issue that needs to be heard. If we continue to sit back and let our elected office holders make laws that effect us in harsh ways they nothing will change.
Kipster: This act of checking a credit score for a job was in place during the 1980’s. I do agree when someone loses their job how can anyone still use this as a barometer in determination if someone is good candidate for a job. As far as our elect officials, we have to asked ourselves are they a reflection of our society, or is society a reflection of them. Pathos, logos, ethos are essentially the elements in what most of us believe. But the power of money can blind many of us.
Want Congress To Extend Unemployment Benefits? Then Target The Media.
http://www.allyourtv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1002:want-congress-to-extend-unemployment-benefits-then-target-the-media&catid=78:featurescoveringmedia
Senator Jack Reed from Rhode Island is seeking to add a provision in a Senate bill, to extend unemployment that will remove the penalty the unemployed face when working part-time during their benefit year.
http://www.examiner.com/x-37913-Boston-Unemployment-Examiner~y2010m3d14-A-glimmer-of-hope-for-the-unemployed-who-lost-their-benefits-MA-job-report
This provision would reinstate unemployment benefits to people like Kate, see link below, who lost her benefits while working part-time during her first benefit year, which left her to rely on social services to pay her rent and food.
If the provision passes, the unemployed would not receive back pay, but would continue with their old benefit rate and once again receive federal unemployment extensions.
http://www.examiner.com/x-37913-Boston-Unemployment-Examiner~y2010m2d19-Thousands-lose-unemployment-benefits-while-working-parttime
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