The long-term unemployed could receive some relief if Congress passes legislation extending benefits to those who have been unemployed more than 99 weeks. Senate Bill 3706, also known as Americans Want to Work Act, is sponsored by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow from Michigan and co-sponsored by Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, Majority Whip Dick Durbin and nine others. The bill, which is still in committee, would create a Tier V benefit for states with unemployment rates above 7.5 percent, which would include Florida.
The bill would also include an extension of the Hire Act payroll tax exemption and increase business tax credits for employers who hire the long-term unemployed.
Republicans are already lined up against the legislation because if would not be paid for and would increase the deficit. Senate Democrats know they have another fight on their hands and the House is considering a bill that would replace the long-term unemployment benefits with TANF block grants to states. TANF is an emergency contingency fund program created in 1996 to replace some welfare programs, and essentially provides money to states for temporary government subsidized jobs. In other words, under this program the long-term unemployed would become welfare recipients.
Florida ranks 47th in unemployment and has a state-wide unemployment rate of 11.4 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the Senate bill to extend benefits passes, more than 30 states would qualify for Tier V benefits. Currently, 35 states show an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent or higher.
Senate Bill 3706 is a speck of light at the end of a long tunnel, but at least some in Congress recognize the unemployed still need assistance. It amazes me that Republican deficit hawks are concerned about paying the unemployed a few bucks to survive on, while at the same time they are campaigning to extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy. It is more than apparent, these so called fiscal conservatives are not concerned over the deficit, but only who gets the biggest slice of the pie.
According to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in July, more than 10 million Americans had lost jobs since the Great Recession began, and it’s estimated that 1.4 million have run out of unemployment benefits. Currently, there are four tiers of extended unemployment benefits, which Congress provided additional funding for last month
What happened to Tier 4? They only show 1,2,3 in my state. They basically extended my Tier 1 with the last passage by ten weeks.
I am not sure I can answer your question John. The answer may depend on what state you live in. I had just gotten on tier iv when they stopped paying, and finally got checks covering 9 weeks this past week. If you are on tier one, then when that is through you should automatically be able to sign up for tier 2, which should give you 20 weeks. They could afford more if they were not so hell bent on giving tax cuts to the people who need it most – and if they didn’t have a war to pay for. Hang in there Buddy.