President signs bill to extend unemployment benefits

when will it start

I think this is good thing for those people who are facing job cuts and those who are still unemployed. Does this apply to those that have used first extension ? i'm not sure if I qualify

thank you

Wonderful. But no one is saying if that is ON TOP OF the recently passed 13-week extension. Anyone know the answer to this? My unemployment office certainly doesn't. The 13- week extension is good through june 2009, so passing a 7 week extension doesn't exactly make sense unless it is in addition to the origional extension.............

Where's the unemployment by state?????????????

If the state of Il. is financially broke, and obama was a state senator there, are we as the nation to expect the same?

You just ran a story about the impact on other businesses caused by the auto industry decline. I found it interesting that a bar owner was complaining about the fact that she needed less help at lunch. My question is this:
Why are auto manufacturer's employees spending their lunch hours in a BAR?!?
Maybe this is an insight into the overall problem. I don't think I want the vehicle that carries my family built by someone drinking their lunch! Am I the only one upset by this?

I am a student who has followed this year's election since the beggining. I have my own unbiased election and political blog at http://www.electionweb.blogspot.com. My blog is very important because it is unbiased, unlike many other blogs covering politics. I think that Barack Obama will restore jobs for America, because the confidence level will rise when he takes office in January. Historically, transition periods between two presidents have been hard on America, however, thisn one is affecting us in more ways than in the past.

We must stop what the cost of gas is going to do to us. This may sound nuts but the government should raise the price of gas to three dollars through taxes and take that money to pay for alternate fuel like the picken's plan. It would make jobs. and keep gas in check.

all this bailout talk is crazy,if my information is correct the ceo of GM got 7.5mil for a bonuslast year,now if you break this down;just his bonus is 3,645.an hr,145,833.a week. That is more than most working people make in a year,yet they are blaming the downfall of thier company in part to the livable wadges of thier working employees.I am a single mother supporting a young son,i make 28.00 an hr and live pay check t pay check.THESE CEO"s SHOULD BE EMBARRASED TO BE SEEN!!!

This is a start. A very small one.
We need to start giving some of the bailout money to americans that have lost their jobs over the last year. A huge unemployment office overhaul is needed in the short term. This will ease some burden during the holidays.

We have come to a point in our society where changes are imperative. As an US Army Officer and an Obama supporter we need to come to terms and accept that our new-to-be President will change this country forever. We might not have the freedom to express our likes and dislikes of who our Commander in Chief is or do, but for the most part we are excited and we welcome President-elect Obama to lead us to continue defending the US...Maybe someday I will have the opportunity to meet him in person

2LT Fred Sanabria

This extension of unemployment benefits is the first act of humanity we will probably ever see from this president and no doubt the last.

The world will be so much better off when he is gone. I am sure history will someday record him as the worst president we have ever had.

I was at work and my co-worker said to me: "I was flipping through the news channels this morning during my daily routine, and on every channel all I saw was talk about the Bailout's and incentive bills. I ran a search and the "estimated" census list approx. 363 million. Why not BAILOUT from the ground up. Give stimulus packets of 1 million dollars to every American. Supply's opportunity to Pay off Auto loans in full, Pay off Mortgages in full, flow the economy with purchasing power. 363 million dollars is a lot less than Billions." I agree with this idea. Support from the ground up. What are your views?

I too am one of the unemployed. I went back to school got some more knowledge in me and now I believe I can get back in the work force and be productive in the world. Haven't found work yet, I continue to apply and with the President signing this extension I hopefully won't have to use it, but its there if I do.

How do I get answers on the unemployment benefits extensions about who is eligble?

Hi Robin, we have a problem that needs some attention. We were forced into early retirement and my husband took a part time job. He has to work 62 hrs a week to be elligible for health insurance. Sense we took ss at 62 we can only make 13500.00 a year. We have to pay one dollar for every two dollars we make over that. We want to pay our way but this problem is sure not helping us get by. With all the young people out of work and the housing market and market values going down you would think that they would want to keep people working and have insurance. Wouldn't they?

Retraction, 62 hrs per wk.

I am not working and I do not get unployment.
there are no jobs where I live.
Soon my credit score will drop because I can not make any of my credit card payments.
then once that drops, it is gonna be hard to get any where.

Hi Jennifer....I have learned from experience that extended unemployment benifits have very different criteria for eligibility than filing a first claim...as the appelate judge stated to me..."these criterium were set up by Congress and cannot be changed in my court"...therefore your weekly EIC check, times 40 must be greater than your base period earnings...I did not qualify...and this "act of Congress" shall keep many folks from qualifying for this extension...the criterium for eligibility must be changed during this last lame-duck session of Congress to make this work....

Jennifer...here's an addendum to my earlier blog stating facts for qualification for unemployment insurance extensions. You stated the average EIC check is $292...criterium states 40 times your weekly EIC check...this equals $11680 for a 3-month quarter, or $3627 a month while you were working....Jennifer..many folks out there did not have $20+ hour jobs...my point being, many folks will not qualify for these extensions unless Congress changes this criteria for qualification....

I was also surprised that Pres. Bush added on more weeks of unemployment compensation. I think that was the best news since
the capture of Saddam Hussein. I have been laid off since Oct. 10th
and will probabally not be called back until late next spring. That is if and
when our economy gets out of this downward spiral it is in. Even if I don't
find a job right away I can at least enjoy the Holidays with my family.

For instance, Michigan unemployment rate is about 9%,
but does that number include the people that can no longer draw unemployment? I do not think so.
All the people that are no longer recorded on the list
of unemployed, are they counted ANYWHERE?

Jackie Janousek

If you are looking for unemployment by state??? Go to http://www.ask.com and type it in. I know in IL the state unemployment site lists unemployment rates for IL, The US.

it is nice that president bush, is signing a bill to extend unemployment benefits...

I'm a first time user of this service. I live in Fairbanks Alaska and saw your segment on gas prices around the country and thought that you may want to know that we pay around $2.60 or so (depending on the vendor) per gallon. We have a refinery less than 15 miles out of town that has a direct tap into the Alaska Pipe Line, so there is no trucking involved to get the crude oil to the refinery. It seem's as if the oil companys have us at their mercy. It looks like price gouging to me, Help me figure it out. Frustrated in Fairbanks Alaska.

I applaud Obama's economic stimulous plan. He is showing America the Truth, finally someone who has some gumption.
I now want to know when the unemployment benefit is going to be extended. for those of us who are in the last two weeks of Bush's 7 week extension..please God why did this man not think ahead..which is obviously a character flaw of his....What are we to do?

Mid february before I see any money? and who will help those of us who live in NY and have not been able to make rental payments, what happens to us? Yes help the homeowner, but what about the apartment renter.

we too should not have to suffer because of those greedy good for nothings and a moronic leader who emptied the coffers of America

I cannot tell you how disgraceful this whole scenario has become.

Have you considered there are lucrative alternatives
to working for the XYZ company?

What about the security of self employment?

Which do you prefer? paycheck or profit?

Why not start "on the side" while you're working.
( Have you read Rich Dad Poor Dad? )

That's how I got started. Today I'm 100% self
employed and growing... even in a "bad economy".

It's not magic, or luck, or the lottery. It's simply
making a decision that you're not going to take it
anymore, then taking charge and responsibility.

Just a rational thought...

I've been out of work since April 08, I recieved the regular 26 weeks of UIB, the 13 week extension and the 7 week extension . Here it is January 31, 09 I'm still out of work, does anyone know if Obama's recovery plan includes an extension of UIB for those of us who have exhausted the regular benefits,13 wk ext and 7 wk ext? If yes, will the extension be until December 2009 ?

I am currently on unemployment and on my last extension. I will recieve my last check next week and still no hopes of finding a job. Did I hear you say on todays show, they're talking about extending benifits again? I just don't know what I will do after next week.

My benifits have been exhuasted, but I only got 13 weeks and do not qualify for the EUC08 or the EB, because I needed 20 weeks of work in two quarters ( I had only 19, one short of qualifying). With the new Recovery Plan that President Obama has pushed through, does it change the 20 weeks needed to qualify for the extensions to a lower number for the state of North Carolina and if so, will I be able to file a new claim or open a new one to start receiving my unemployment checks again? 13 weeks helped, but with our unemployment rate so high more would help until i find work.

thanks,

I need your help.Select Portfolio Servicing is a loan Mortgage company, my interest was 7.87% became adjustable last October 20008 going up 8.87% which is 9% the gorvenment interest rate is going down but mine can only goes up. trying to get a loan modification since October 2008 there is no response and i am about to collapse financialy, please help. there website http://www.spservicing.com phone # 800 6359698

What about help for all the Small Business Owners ? I have not heard anything about us, HAVE YOU? I had to close my Business. I am left with NO income. I have with 2 children. My husband is on SSDI unable to work due to disability. I can not get Unemployment Benifits. Where is my help?

I am currently receiving the unmployment extention . I have been unemployed since june 1 2008. I heard confussing news today about another extention passed and 25 $ extra for each check. Can I have the real story please?
How long we can extend our benefits if I have not find a job?
Thanks for your reply

LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.I am a 48 year old disabled man whom lives on disability. how will the stimulus package help me. Jen, Why do illegal aliens get  Access a full medical coverage and full Brand name prescription coverage at absolutely no cost to those whom don't pay taxes.While I an American citizen whom paid taxes all my life until I became disabled have to pay for medicare, which is not even close to the coverage that access provides, so I have to pay for a supplemental health care coverage plus pay for an drug plan coverage which leaves me paying full price half the year out of my meager disability payments.

BOTTOM LINE- American citizens on very limited income pay threw the nose for inadequate health care and prescription coverage while Illegal aliens pay nothing and receive coverage that is light years better. WHY?????                    Larr M  In  Mareitta, Ga

I see all these Credit Card "help" companys that say they can "fix" your problems. Are there any out there that are for REAL? I've seen lots on how the can really ruin you if you pick the wrong one.

Our Foundation

Forward we move, into the future, substantiated by the past, how is our foundation?

looking at this, is our history, born from what our forefathers intended, a legacy of diversity in richness and development.

Examining each detail, it is all recorded, ready for inspection.

Determined that there is much to be learned from history, one finds a way to suit what is discovered from the past, to glorify it for the present.

At a loss of the certainty of how it will work, we give it our best effort.

Preserved in the past, lessons may be repeated till we find what works for the day.
Promised to keep good effort, the destination of the compilation is released in good faith.

Only what works is pursued, keeping in mind the responsibility we have to one another.

Discovered that what is now established, is to be given wings and the opportunity to birth the desired results.

Along the treacherous path, this new package is destine to encounter foe.

From a natural division in a societies beliefs’, persuasion targets each other.

If only there was a total consensus, though, we are not machines, the greater the support stronger the foundation.

Borrowed from days gone by, is the sense, of greater possibility for success.

Our history has made us what we are today.

We have learned, we have a responsibility to our future.

Without our best effort and working together as much as possible, come the increased chance to have a repeat occurrence.

There are checks and balances along the way, securing the dream will come true.

Allow yourself to be part of the process, it creates better opportunity for the greater good.

Russell Hansen 2/20/09

With the previous stimulus "tax rebate" check I never ended up receiving actual money as it went towards federal taxes I owe. This time around since I receive Social Security Disability I should therefore receive $250 from Social Security in a lump sum, but will this also go towards federal taxes that I owe?

I got fired in Sep 08,filed for benefits rightaway,my employer challeneged the claim but lost.Benefits started coming in from January,don't know how long they will last.Have found no job yet.I don't drive and rely on Chicago transit to get by.Life is hard and prospects are dim.
I might just leave the country go live somewhere else where it is cheap.

I would like to know if the eligibility for extended unemployment benefits (EUC 08) varies from state to state. It seems that since this is a federal program it should be administerered uniformly for all claimants.

I live in Illinois and was denied and extenstension of benefits. To qualify in IL "You must have total base periiod wages with respect to your most recent benefit year equal to or greater than 1-1/2 times your highest quarter of wages during your base period." I am a consultant and work on an hourly basis. Because of this, my wages can become skewed to show that I earned the bulk of my earnings in one quarter, rather than spread out over two or three.

Do other states have this requirement? I have not seen it on other state's web sites. It was explained to me that this was the federal government's policy and that I was one of just a handful of people caught by this policy. In my case I was denied because I made $300 more than I should have in one quarter. (I should have taken some downtime that quarter) It just seems so arbitrary. People are trying to make a living and stay off of unemployment and they still can get penalized. You would think this rule would at least be tied to some maximum earnings level. I was just trying to work as many hours as I could, when the work was available to me.

Jennifer,

What happens to the small business owner after he sells the business and his employees collect thier unemployment benifits. Is the former business owner charged for the unemployment benifits that were collected or is his obligation over when he sells the business?

I would like to no if any weeks will be added after my 33 weeks i still have not yet found a job yet .This month is my last month will Obama add any weeks to baltimore DLLR .It is 08/09 we still need help till people find jobs.

There ought to be checks for the unemployment office for those who are eligible for benefits but unable to get paid without a clear reason why – or even guidance – from the unemployment office. There should be clear definitions of what is an acceptable search, especially for jobs that don't have many jobs available. I'm told one thing on the phone and another when I try to make another useless attempt to get paid. I was told directly on the phone that I would not be getting paid. I think that needs to stop. I am not the type of person that tries to live off of unemployment or scam the government in any way. Most of my life I have been employed. Is it my fault that my previous employer does not have work for me to do? No. We should make the unemployment office more responsible and accountable for their denials based on work search. It's not the same for each type of career to find jobs.