Since the general economy began to decline and the overall poverty level of citizens throughout the United States has increased, the number of people who are filing unemployment applications throughout the country has significantly increased. Many people are surprised to discover that the laws related to unemployment benefits are much different than what they assumed they would be. Most have no idea of any income or work history requirements or that there may be other welfare programs available to help them meet their basic needs until they can find new work. Knowing how unemployment works is critical to your success in filing unemployment applications.
The other aspect of unemployment insurance that many people don’t consider is the constant changes to the applicable laws made by Congress. Since the passage of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act in 2009 Congress has been faced with the decision of whether to further amend laws to allow for people who would otherwise exhaust their unemployment compensation to continue to receive those payments through an extension.
As of November of 2011 only 48 percent of individuals who are unemployed and who would otherwise be eligible for unemployment benefits were receiving compensation under this general welfare program. This is a significant decrease from the 75 percent that earned benefits just a year ago. The reason for the decline is due to the slowed drop in people losing their jobs and filing unemployment applications. Additionally, and significantly, others who are out of work have completely exhausted their available 99 weeks of unemployment insurance. These payments, which average $300 per week across the United States.
These issues are all compounded by the fact that employment numbers are not increasing like government and local leaders would like to see. Even Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman, has noted recently of the “crisis” that looms because of expiring unemployment payments and a lack of work for those who are relying on these weekly checks.
Similar problems are also plaguing those who receive compensation through other public welfare programs like TANF, Food Stamps (more formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and the WIC health program.
It remains to be seen what will ultimately result from these rising and serious issues.
Source: msnbc.msn.com/id/45175026/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/t/most-unemployed-no-longer-receive-benefits/#.TwS0PVawXsQ
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