Unemployment Insurance: Available Unemployment Benefits and Legislative Activity

Julie M. Whittaker
Specialist in Income Security

Alison M. Shelton
Analyst in Income Security

Various benefits may be available to unemployed workers to provide income support. When eligible workers lose their jobs, the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program may provide up to 26 weeks of income support through the payment of regular UC benefits. UC benefits may be extended for up to 13 or 20 additional weeks at the state level by the Extended Benefit (EB) program if certain economic situations exist within the state. In July 2008, a new temporary unemployment benefit, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program, began. EUC08 now provides up to an additional 34 weeks of unemployment benefits and, if certain economic conditions exist within the state, EUC08 may provide up to an additional 19 weeks of EUC08 benefits (totaling four tiers and 53 weeks of EUC08 benefits). The EUC08 program expires on April 5, 2010. Certain groups of workers who lose their jobs because of international competition may qualify for income support through Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) programs. Unemployed workers may be eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits if they are not eligible for regular UC and if their unemployment may be directly attributed to a declared major disaster. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), P.L. 111-5, contained provisions affecting unemployment benefits. ARRA increased benefits by $25 per week through December 2009. ARRA also extended the EUC08 program through the end of 2009. ARRA provided for 100% federal financing of the EB program through January 1, 2010, and allowed states the option of temporarily easing EB eligibility requirements. ARRA suspended income taxation on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits received in 2009. In addition, states would not owe or accrue interest, through December 2010, on federal loans to states for the payment of unemployment benefits. ARRA also provided for a special transfer of up to $7 billion in federal monies to state unemployment programs as "incentive payments" for changing certain state UC laws. In addition, ARRA transferred $500 million to the states for administering unemployment programs. 

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, P.L. 111-92, expanded the number of weeks available in the EUC08 program. Tier I benefits continue to be up to 20 weeks in duration and tier II benefits are now 14 weeks in duration (compared with 13 previously) and no longer are dependent on a state's unemployment rate. The new tier III benefit provides up to 13 weeks of EUC08 benefits to those workers in states with an average unemployment rate of 6% or higher. The new tier IV benefit may provide up to an additional 6 weeks of benefits if the state unemployment rate is at least 8.5%. 

On December 19, 2009, the President signed P.L. 111-118, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2010, which extended the EUC08 program, 100% federal financing of the EB program, and the $25 weekly supplemental benefit through the end of February 2010. On March 2, 2010, the President signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-144), which extends the EUC08 program, 100% federal financing of the EB program, and the $25 weekly supplemental benefit to April 5, 2010. 

On December 16, 2009, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, to extend the availability of EUC08, 100% federal financing of EB, and the $25 FAC benefits, through the end of June 2010. The Senate-passed version of H.R. 2847 contained no comparable provisions. On March 4, 2010, the House passed an amended version of the Senate amended version of H.R. 2847. H.R. 2847, as amended, does not contain any unemployment insurance provisions. .


Date of Report: March 5, 2010
Number of Pages: 32
Order Number: RL33362
Price: $29.95

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