Michigan unemployed get benefits extension GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The nation's unemployment rate is now in double digits and at a 26-year high. The labor department says the October jobless rate was 10.2%, the highest level since April of 1983. The rate in September of this year was 9.8%. President Barack Obama says the double-digit unemployment is regrettable and that he will not rest until all Americans who want work can find jobs. In an effort to ease the pain of joblessness, President Obama signed a bill extending unemployment benefits by either 14 or 20 weeks. In Michigan, it means, quite simply, those who have reached the end of the line at being able to draw unemployment get a few more months to try and turn things around. "Currently a person can collect 26 weeks of regular benefits, 33 weeks of unemployment compensation and then 20 weeks of extended benefits. So, before this bill passing there were 72 weeks that a person could draw," said Dennis Knapp a manager at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency in Grand Rapids. "There have been people even with 72 weeks of unemployment that have not been able to find a full time job" Knapp says the phones are constantly busy at the UIA call centers. He says just last week workers took over 50,000 calls. Many are from people who have exhausted their benefits and are anxious to know if more help is on the way. He says it is for those who are eligible. "Well, we are going to be doing a sweep of our system and it is basically going to be everyone who is on the extension program and has exhausted it in 2009. So we are estimating that is going to be 70,000 to 80,000 people at this time," he said. "It means they will be able to continue to provide housing, shelter and pay bills for themselves and for their families." Under the legislation, the chronically unemployed will be able to collect an additional 14 weeks of compensation in most states. In states with jobless numbers higher than 8.5% those who are eligible will be able to collect an additional 20 weeks. That includes Michigan. "We haven't gotten the guidelines yet from the United States Department of Labor. There is going to have to be some programming done along with the sweep of our system to identify those 70,000 to 80,000 people," he said. "We are anticipating payments will begin about the middle of December." Knapp says a lot of unemployed people are going to be anxious to know if they qualify. He urges people not to call the call center because it could slow the process down. "Again, we haven't gotten the specifics from the United States Department of Labor. They actually send us the criteria and that is why there is that delay. They send the information and we have to program our system and generates the list and we contact them and let them know that they are eligible. We are anticipating anyone who has exhausted in 2009 would be eligible. We will send them a letter and let them know exactly what they have to do to receive their benefits," he said. "We are going to be working on that so we can get that process started as soon as possible." He says the agency will send a letter to those who qualify for extension benefits advising them how to proceed. The UIA also provide updates on its website, http://www.michigan.gov/uia as they come in.
11/6/2009 7:21:04 PM
