Federal and State Extended Unemployment Benefits

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by Alison Doyle 

Unemployment extension news and updates, information on federal unemployment extensions, extended unemployment benefit guidelines, and information on how to collect extended unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Extension Legislation Update

Unemployment extension legislation has been introduced in the House. The legislation, if passed, would extend the deadline for filing for federal extended unemployment benefits to February 28. However, extended benefits legislation will need to be passed in both the House and Senate, which may be difficult, prior to approval. The current extended benefits expire on November 30.

Current Status of Extended Benefits

In July, legislation that provides an extension of federal extended unemployment benefits through November was signed by the President. The extension restored unemployment benefits to the 2.3 million unemployed Americans who had run out of basic unemployment benefits.

However, the current extensions in place expire on November 30 and two million unemployed workers will run out of unemployment unless legislation is passed by Congress providing for an additional extension.

Unless another extension is passed there will be no extended benefits programs in place, except in some cases where those already collecting unemployment can move to the next tier of benefits.

Here's an overview of which unemployment benefits are expiring, along with the impact they will have on the unemployed.

State Extended Benefits

Extended Unemployment Benefits are available to workers who have exhausted regular unemployment insurance benefits during periods of high unemployment. There are triggers (calculations based on the state unemployment rate) that determine when a State will extend benefits.

The basic Extended Benefits program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when a State is experiencing high unemployment. Some States have also enacted a voluntary program to pay up to 7 additional weeks (20 weeks maximum) of Extended Benefits during periods of extremely high unemployment.

Federal Extended Benefits

In addition to state extended unemployment compensation, there may be additional benefits funding by the Federal government, including Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits.

Extended Unemployment Benefit Tiers
The extended benefits you are eligible for depend on the state you live in and the date you became unemployed.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tiers

• Tier 1 - 20 weeks
• Tier 2 - 14 weeks
• Tier 3 - 13 additional weeks of benefits in states where the total unemployment rate 6% or higher.
• Tier 4 - 6 additional weeks of benefits in states where the total unemployment rate is 8.5% or higher.

Extended Benefits (EB) Program

The Extended Benefits (EB) program provides an additional 13 to 20 weeks of benefits to workers receiving unemployment insurance in states have a specific unemployment rate.

As an example, depending on the unemployment rate and the extended benefit programs in place, in New York unemployed workers may be eligible for 26 weeks of state unemployment compensation and additional weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) emergency benefits and Extended Benefits (EB) extended benefits.

Amount of Benefits

The weekly benefit amount of Extended Benefits is the same as the individual received for regular unemployment compensation. The total amount of Extended Benefits that an individual could receive de may be fewer than 13 weeks or fewer than 20 weeks, depending on the state unemployment rate.

How to Collect Extended Benefits

When a State begins an Extended Benefit period, it notifies those who have received all of their regular benefits that they may be eligible for Extended Benefits. You may contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency to ask whether Extended Benefits are available.

Check with your State Unemployment Office for information on what benefits you are entitled to.

What to Do When Unemployment Runs Out

Here's information on what to do when your unemployment checks run out and where unemployed workers can get assistance when they are out or about to run out of benefits.

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