What is the unemployment extension?

The employment picture doesn’t seem to be getting better, even though we hear reports about the economy turning around. If you are still unemployed or you just lost your job the idea that the economy is turning around rings hollow. Unemployment benefits, the government’s safety net, are supposed to last only 26 weeks. But since this recession is particularly severe unemployment benefits has been extended. 

How does the unemployment extension work?

In 2008 the Congress passed a bill to extend benefits to workers who have exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits. On April 15, 2010 the President signed legislation to extend the eligibility period for the following programs:

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) 
• State Extended Benefits (SEB) 
• Federal Additional Compensation (FAC)

 The emergency unemployment Compensation (EUC) is broken into tiers.  

1. The first tier extends unemployment for 20 weeks, the last week to apply for first tier is May 23 through May 29, 2010. 
2. The second tier extends unemployment for up to 14 weeks for people who have exhausted tier one. You must apply by the qualifying week of May 23 - 29, 2010 
3. The third tier extends unemployment for up to 13 weeks for people who have exhausted their second tier extensions. You must apply by the qualifying week of May 23 - 29, 2010 
4. The fourth tier extends unemployment for 6 weeks for people who have exhausted their third tier extensions.

Go to filing unemployment online for state by state information on filing.