Unemployment Benefits Extended
 

Just heard that President Bush intends to sign a bill that will extend unemployment benefits. This usually means that when your state benefits end, the federal money kicks in. I don't know for how long, but historically, the amount is the same as your state one.

Be on the lookout for a letter from your unemployment office. If you have to do something in order to seamlessly move to that, then do it.

An article said something on the order of 13 more weeks of unemployment after state benefits run out?

Yes, 13 more weeks is what it's been historically. Benefits have been extended 7 times before, the last one being in 2002. Congress still has to sign off on it, but looks like it will given the additional layoff numbers just received from the Labor Department.

What is still unclear is the date by which you would have applied for state unemployment in order to be eligible for this extension. For example, Congress might say the extension is available to those who applied for benefits from July 1 to November 1. If you were furloughed before that and applied on June 30 lets say, you may not be eligible. I had a client once where this happened and I argued his case before a judge until I was blue in the face. Didn't work.

I know I could use it. I've applied to every airline out there right now and my unemployment ends in mid February. I don't want to get out of the cockpit. Contract flights are keeping me current for now.

I am sure Oregon is similar to Washington in that you get a Statement of Wages and Hours, which show your total benefit and the weekly amount. In addition, the weekly checks should have a spot where it tells you how many more weeks you have. If you'd like, you can fax me that piece of paper and I'll see what it says, if anything.

The 13 weeks of the federal extension is just that - 13 more weeks after your state ends.

simcole, if you are doing contract flights for money, you should be reporting those earnings to your local unemployment office. Your weekly benefit will be reduced by that amount earned, but it also means your benefits get extended because you are not using up the funds as fast. If you do not report the earnings, that is considered fraud and even an exceptional lawyer like me won't be able to help you. (I am not saying you are not now reporting, just saying what would happen to someone if he does not report).