And mine, by the by, because I filed for my unemployment on July7th. My unemployment benefits will run out on Saturday, January 9th (the last week that I can file for ends on this day).
To be eligible for the Federal Unemployment benefits extension that was signed into law on November 8, 2009 - You must run out of benefits by December 19th, 2009. [click here to read, warning: .pdf]
So, if you have been on unemployment longer than six months and one week, you will now be eligible for at least 53 weeks of Federal Extensions (which amount to 100% of your current benefit) and as much as 73 weeks total extended benefits.
However, if you've only been unemployed a bit less (one week) then six months - better have a Plan B, because you are S.O.L.
How, in any logical world, can this be possible?
I know that the US Congress has a lot on it's plate these days, what with the endless Healthcare Reform debates and the Cap and Trade legislation and the multitude of important issues of the day.
But for me, and, by about March 10 of the new year, about 3 million other people, we'll be jobless, moneyless - and likely homeless quite shortly thereafter.
Because we haven't been without a job as long as the rest of our fellow citizens.
We paid payroll and other taxes longer than they did, but we are not eligible for the same benefits from our federal government?
How the hell could it have been an accident that all those Senators and Representatives and all of their staff who worked on the bill never noticed that it had an effective cut-off date of the sunset language of the underlying Bill it was attached to? Which was December 19th, 2009.
In WA State, if you are not eligible for the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), then you are still eligible for the Extended Benefits (EB). EB pays up to 20 weeks of benefits.
Well, now, isn't that just great.
I've been excluded from the year-long extension to my unemployment, but if my state is still in bad enough shape, I may get an extension of 20 weeks.
To sum up.
More than six months unemployed? You get another 53 to 73 weeks of benefits, uninterrupted.
Less than six months unemployed? You get another 20 weeks (if your state is above 8.5% unemployed)..
This is a seriously bad situation folks.
For me and my family, it is a disaster in the making. I'm faithfully searching for employment, and have actually had three interviews since I lost my job on June 18th, but it's getting very grim out here in the Land of the Unemployed.
I finally (because I hate the thought of having to go to the local county Social Services building and tell a complete stranger intimate details of my life - so that I can get some assistance paying for food and basic necessities) applied for WA State food and healthcare insurance assistance. Not because I want to, but I need to start saving every penny now, because in about six weeks I'm may be on my own.
So are about 3 million of my fellow citizens, who were, like me, unlucky to have kept our jobs as long as we did. Shame on us.
On second thought, shame on Congress.
Please. Take a moment out of your HCR debate-induced coma. Call your Senators, Congressmen and State legislators. TODAY. Demand that they cure the December 19th deadline for Unemployment Extended benefits created by the legislation passed on November 8th (last month).
Imagine the hit the economy will take in late January or early February, when we 3 million stop spending on basic needs, all at once.
This is a disaster in the making, please do what you can to help.
If anyone gets the idea that I just want to sit home and get paid for another year, you are seriously mistaken. I want a job. I need a job. I am fucking tired of wondering what day it is (date), because without a regular job to go to, after a while you are just drifting through your days, trying to fill them up with something so that you don't feel like a fucking waste of oxygen.
The latest reports that I've read set the ratio at about 6:1 for those seeking jobs vs available jobs.
Six people looking for each new job available.
So, if any Kossack has a job idea (or contact) for me in the SW Washington State area, feel free to send me a message to the email in my profile.
UPDATE h/t to kyril
My math skills have been better. My outrage is still the same. The EB payments are available right after the end of any current benefit for those who are not eligible for the EUC extension.
UPDATE II h/t to durrati
via a HuffPost Link: Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) has sponsored H.R. 4183 Helping Unemployed Workers Act (in the House) and (in the Senate) Sen. John Reed (D-RI) has sponsored S. 2831, the Senate version. Both bills are set to address this Dec 2009 date for the referenced Federal Extension of Unemployment benefits that will affect as many as 3,000,0000 by March of 2010.
Please contact your legislators in support of these two bills.