Lawmakers are mulling the possibility of adding an extra tier of unemployment benefits beyond the four tiers currently available for those who have been out of work for over 99 weeks.
However, the hard-fought battle over extending unemployment benefits that played out earlier this month is leaving some lawmakers exhausted.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., recently told an Elmira, N.Y., TV news outlet, WENY-TV, that Congress was working on a bill that would help those who have exhausted the 99 weeks of benefits during the economic downturn, adding a possible Tier 5 of benefits.
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“There are a number of people who have maxed out,” he said. “They’re been looking and looking for work, but haven’t found it, and there is a separate act that would extend those benefits to them. Extending this was really important. There are some people who go beyond the 99 weeks and we’re going to try to do that next.”
However, Schumer and his staff are reportedly “tired” right now from the recent battle to get the last unemployment extension passed, according to Examiner.com, and further legislation is not likely to emerge until well after the August recess. Schumer has also said that he would need help from at least one Republican to pass such a bill. Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Another Democrat, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, is also reportedly interested in working on extending benefits for the so-called “99ers.” But it may be difficult to add a fifth tier of benefits. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has previously indicated that there were no plans for adding an extra tier. But anything can change in Washington, especially with elections approaching.
With the economy still sputtering, and efforts to pass jobs legislation such as the Small Business Jobs Act encountering resistance, it may be necessary to extend benefits further before the crucial midterm elections if the unemployment numbers don't improve faster.
The recently passed unemployment extension will help over 2
million of the unemployed who have exhausted their benefits, but only
through the end of November. That will mean millions of nervous voters at the polls on election day.
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6 Comments
And I was a remodel contractor who as time and years passed went inside to clerk , sell for a building supplier . I was a good worker but some people had to go and being older , etc . ( Not w . young children to support . . . ) , they gave me notice and thus here now 99 weeks later I am abruptly shy of $430 a week . I have renewed my remodel work and it creeps ahead . You ( BANKERS esp . / who we preposterously bailed out and who now resist lending a hand back - foreclosures , ad infinitum . . . ) all sooooo haven ' t helped by obliterating the building and remodeling business along the way with greedy need of more profitable investment vehicles ( derivatives , etc . - of which still little is known - apparently even by the former Secy of Treasury , AHEM ) AND . . . with pushing - I speak of those creeps who took advantage by selling to those who couldn ' t afford - what was sold to folks who had no way of covering . And Y O U know who you are . That is currently all about me as to U I benefits .
Posted by: papulaisle | December 4, 2010 12:06 PM
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i too have been out of work jan. 31 2009 was my last day.I'm a house painter have been for 35 years also out of weeks of unemployment tier 5 would be a blessing.I don't know what to do.I'm 57 years old an know that for me to get a job is twice as hard everybody wants the young,so what i should turn to a life of crime,i do not believe that is what my God would want but I,m one step away from being homeless i can,t do it so if something doesing happen soon it looks like i,ll be getting three meals an a cot from one of the many fills up jails now.because i will not live on the streets.Can't live in my car sold it last week to pay rent.its going to get very nasty before it get better.God forgive me
Posted by: camp53 | August 1, 2010 1:40 PM
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Posted by: ganton | July 30, 2010 9:56 PM
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I lost my $500,000 home, along with my real estate investments of 15 homes, because of these bad Libor Arm loans that put us in this recession.
My 15 properties went down by 70% in just 18 months. I went to over 100 banks around the USA and no one wanted to give the loan. They kept saying that the equity in the homes was going down and they were afraid.
Now for myself, I have been on unemployment since February 3, 2008 and getting very worried.
I am currently out of my 99 weeks.
I am hoping Congress extends the 99 weeks limit for unemployment compensation to at least 20 weeks. This will keep families in their homes, cars, etc.
If we stop the benefits, families will wind up in the street or with their family members, but what happens to their foreclosed properties, it is a domino effect to disaster.
PS: If this Tier 5 is not extended, not only for at least 6 months, but till the end of 2010, then people will stop paying their bills, along with their home mortgage.
Look at news on July 23, 2010, it states that foreclosures went up 75% in major cities. People are living in their cars and suicide is up.
The only way out of this is give unemployed people money so they can put it back in the system. I understand the politicians think we will run out of money, but more and more people will go into poverty and many more people will take risks, like burglary. Let Congress give them money and they will spend it, because 70% of our way out depends on how much people spend.
Remember, people have the votes. And November is nearing.
It is proven that the people use this unemployment money to buy groceries, pay bills, etc. Sincerely,
Gary Paul
Posted by: ganton | July 30, 2010 9:54 PM
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I lost my $500,000 home, along with my real estate investments of 15 homes, because of these bad Libor Arm loans that put us in this recession.
My 15 properties went down by 70% in just 18 months. I went to over 100 banks around the USA and no one wanted to give the loan. They kept saying that the equity in the homes was going down and they were afraid.
Now for myself, I have been on unemployment since February 3, 2008 and getting very worried.
I am currently out of my 99 weeks.
I am hoping Congress extends the 99 weeks limit for unemployment compensation to at least 20 weeks. This will keep families in their homes, cars, etc.
If we stop the benefits, families will wind up in the street or with their family members, but what happens to their foreclosed properties, it is a domino effect to disaster.
PS: If this Tier 5 is not extended, not only for at least 6 months, but till the end of 2010, then people will stop paying their bills, along with their home mortgage.
Look at news on July 23, 2010, it states that foreclosures went up 75% in major cities. People are living in their cars and suicide is up.
The only way out of this is give unemployed people money so they can put it back in the system. I understand the politicians think we will run out of money, but more and more people will go into poverty and many more people will take risks, like burglary. Let Congress give them money and they will spend it, because 70% of our way out depends on how much people spend.
Remember, people have the votes. And November is nearing.
It is proven that the people use this unemployment money to buy groceries, pay bills, etc. Sincerely,
Gary Paul
Posted by: ganton | July 30, 2010 9:53 PM
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Dear Mr. President and DC:
I voted for you and I know you are trying your best and we will over come.
I have been out of work since Feb 2008 and I had my own business. I was earning over $100,000 with a job I loved. The job which was providing Govt. loans to Doctors and Lawyers around the country.
We saved these clients much money by offering better loans through being own time with their payments.
Then the American Government took this away, not just from us, but from the American youth who need loans to go to school. Govt loans were very forgiving apposed to private loans, which are not.
The Govt decided to shut down over 3000 offices in this field just because of a few bad companies and my company was not one of them. This happened in January 2008, right at the beginning of the recession.
After that, I lost my $500,000 home, along with my real estate investments of 15 homes, because of these bad Libor Arm loans that put us in this recession.
My 15 properties went down by 70% in just 18 months. I was trying to refi the loans and get into a more long term loan, but I had no luck. I went to over 100 banks around the USA and no one wanted to give the loan. They kept saying that the equity in the homes was going down and they were afraid.
Sincerely,
Gary Paul
Posted by: ganton | July 30, 2010 9:46 PM
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