Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits are funds paid out through an authorized agency (usually a state or federal government office) to someone who has lost his or her primary employment. Some programs extend their terms to include those who have had significantly reduced hours. Unemployment benefits are sometimes referred to as unemployment compensation, unemployment assistance, or unemployment insurance.

This page deals primarily with unemployment benefits in the United States, although there are similar programs set up in a number of countries, including but not limited to Canada, Argentina, Australia, Italy, and New Zealand.http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/employment-insurance-canada-history-structure-and-issues http://ftp.iza.org/dp3579.pdf http://www.justlanded.com/english/Australia/Australia-Guide/Jobs/Unemployment-Benefit http://www.justlanded.com/english/Italy/Italy-Guide/Jobs/Unemployment-Benefit http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/social-security/1 Some countries include unemployment benefits as part of a larger Social Security or Social Welfare Program.http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/social-security/1

Although every state has set a limit on its program, with either a finite time or a finite amount of funding based on what each person has paid in, there are times when the federal or state government set an extension on benefits for one reason or another.

There has been a debate going on in Congress for some time. The Senate approved the extension of up to 99 weeks in some states on March 11, and the House of Representatives approved only a one month extension when they voted on March 16. This went back to the Senate, who were expected to vote on the House proposal on March 23..http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201003171612dowjonesdjonline000687&title=us-house-approves-short-term-extension-of-jobless-benefits Extensions were finally granted that would run until June 13.

As of July 13, 2010, the Senate was in a stalemate in debating another emergency extension bill. Though the bill passed the House of Representatives before the Memorial Day holiday, the debate in the Senate has allowed the existing extension to expire. This is the third time that benefits have been interrupted due to Congress not acting quickly to pass another extension. Any measure the Senate does pass will have to be reconciled with the previous version passed by the House of Representatives.http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/96420514.html

The most current information on this extension can be found on the Unemployment Extension page.