Extend Unemployment Benefits Now - Don't leave our money in Washington
Message Thousands of workers in our state are going to reach the end of their federal emergency unemployment compensation benefits (EUC) this month. The stimulus bill could provide our state with 100% federal funds to cover myself and other hard working residents who just can't find work because of the difficult economy.
These benefits which are known as EB--federal extended benefits--can only be provided if the state amends our law to accept the funds. This would be done by adopting a rule that accepts these federal funds when the unemployment rate is over 6.5%. Moreover, states can provide 20 weeks of extended benefits -- nearly 2 months of extra help for families like mine -- when the unemployment rate exceeds 8.0%.
But, our state does not have the rule in place. Normally, the benefits are shared 50-50 between the states and the federal government. But, the stimulus bill now provides 100% funding for 2009. So, there is no good reason not to change our law at least on a temporary basis.
This provision of the stimulus bill has not received much attention, but the plight of working families like myself is real. With the job market like it is today, I can't imagine a worse time to be without a paycheck or an unemployment check. We need your leadership to make this change.
Please act quickly to take advantage of these benefits. To learn more about the issue visit the National Employment Law Project's fact sheet at www.nelp.org or contact them at 212-285-3025.
Message Thousands of workers in our state are going to reach the end of their federal emergency unemployment compensation benefits (EUC) this month. The stimulus bill could provide our state with 100% federal funds to cover myself and other hard working residents who just can't find work because of the difficult economy.
These benefits which are known as EB--federal extended benefits--can only be provided if the state amends our law to accept the funds. This would be done by adopting a rule that accepts these federal funds when the unemployment rate is over 6.5%. Moreover, states can provide 20 weeks of extended benefits -- nearly 2 months of extra help for families like mine -- when the unemployment rate exceeds 8.0%.
But, our state does not have the rule in place. Normally, the benefits are shared 50-50 between the states and the federal government. But, the stimulus bill now provides 100% funding for 2009. So, there is no good reason not to change our law at least on a temporary basis.
This provision of the stimulus bill has not received much attention, but the plight of working families like myself is real. With the job market like it is today, I can't imagine a worse time to be without a paycheck or an unemployment check. We need your leadership to make this change.
Please act quickly to take advantage of these benefits. To learn more about the issue visit the National Employment Law Project's fact sheet at www.nelp.org or contact them at 212-285-3025.
