Congress voted to extend the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program through 2013 on tuesday (1-1-2013). This means, unemployed workers who are currently collecting federal jobless benefits can continue to receive unemployment compensation. Unemployed workers who run out of state benefits during 2013 are now eligible for benefit extensions.
With the extension of EUC, more than 2 million Americans have been saved from hitting poverty.
EUC is a 100% federally funded program that provides extension of unemployment benefits to individuals who have exhausted regular state benefits. The EUC program was created in the year 2008 to combat high unemployment rates and has been amended several times.
Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 which includes the extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program and temporary extension of Extended Benefit Provisions. The President is expected to sign the bill into law as soon as today, January 3, 2013.
The legislation has not changed the number of weeks of benefits available under the EUC program, but has allowed the program to continue the same as before.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the two federal unemployment programs, (EUC and State Extended Benefits (SEB)) could have costed about $30 billion for a year long extension. The extension in EUC benefits is said to create 300,000 jobs and boost economic growth by 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013.
If you are currently receiving EUC benefits, please continue claiming benefits weekly to ensure timely payment.
Note:
Eligibility for EUC benefits depends on the date of your claim, your state and the state unemployment rate.
Keep checking state websites for updates on benefit extension and further instructions.
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