[EDIT: I put a How-to post on the Federal Unemployment Extension here]
Well, it’s about time!
President Obama signed the emergency unemployment benefits legislation into law this afternoon shortly after the House passed the measure and sent it to his desk. The House last approved an extension in May but the US Senate would not come to an agreement on the extension prior to breaking for their summer recess at the end of June and the measure stalled. The Senate finally approved the bill Wednesday afternoon which then sent it to the House for today’s passage.
[ad#NH Unemployment Inside]
This bill will see Federal emergency unemployment insurance benefits extended until November for the unemployed Americans who have used up their standard 6 1/2 months of benefits. The House passed the measure by a vote of 272-152 which, like the June vote, was largely along party lines. The majority Democrats pushed for the extension, framing it as a crucial measure to help unemployed Americans suffering the worst recession in generations. Senate and House GOP claimed that the bill would add to the $1T deficit and should be paid for by government spending cuts elsewhere. Here is an AP News video on the extension -
So what does this mean for Granite Staters? Well, first, it means that if you are still claiming your first 26 weeks of benefits (the regular NHES benefits), you will likely be eligible for an extension when those benefits run out. If your NHES benefits ran out and you are claiming the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) or Extended Benefits (EB) benefits, you may also be eligible for an extension. If these benefits ran out after the expiration of the previous extension, you may be eligible for retroactive benefits. Finally, if you have exhausted all State, EUC, and EB claims, you may not be eligible BUT IT IS IMPORTANT that you be ABSOLUTELY SURE and should contact NHES directly for help with your particular case. It’s confusing and you do not want to miss out on the extension. As usual, if you have any questions of comments, please leave a comment.
Where is our extension and how do I file for it?
Linda
Hi Linda – thanks for the comment. The extension has been approved by Congress and should be available in NH very soon. I put up a more recent post about how to file for the extension here. Hope this helps you and let me know if you need anything else.
Admin.
I filed my Initial Claim today (7/29/10). How long should I expect to wait before I see a a check?
Steve
I received a letter from unemployment saying the as of aug 14th there will be no more NH EB because it has dropped below 5.9% of people that are unemployed. How do they know that number is right? They probably aren’t including the people that cannot collect benefits anymore which isn’t really fair. Does this mean that the people in NH that just started getting the EB aren’t going to get the emergency benefits even if they are collecting regular EUC benefits when it went into affect? Its so confusing, I am so desperate to work, I just want a job.
- Diane
Hi Diane,
I’ve received a lot of email from people with the similar questions regarding the unemployment extension, EUC, and EB and how NH triggered off after the unemployment rate dropped to 5.9%. I’ll put a post (or two) up on this in the next day or two.
Hang in there.
-Admin
I am currently in a “transition” period w/my NHES claim. I had EB for 2 weeks, I had not yet exhausted Tier III. I am being told that, although my account is in good standing and have filed correctly ( I have inquired 4x in person and on the phone to make SURE I was doing everything correctly and was told to do 3 different things by 3 different people!), I will NOT receive ANY benefits for up to 3 weeks!! There was NO warning of this occurance!!
It is now the 25th of August, my rent is due in 8 days, all my bills are due and I have no money to live on! I have been desperately seeking work, I FINALLY have a job offer, however, it requires that I purchase a certain amount of liability insurance on my vehicle PRIOR to starting work. Again, I have no money! Am I to be held hostage by the system that is put in place to assist me? I CAN’T WORK? My rent payment is going to be 2 weeks late? I can’t ask my prospective employer to wait a month to hire me!!!
So now, I can’t work, I have no financial assistance and quite possibly no place to live come September? Is this for real? Is filing bankruptcy on my horizon?
I have exhausted my 26 weeks and was collecting the 13 weeks(EUC). I recieved the notice about 8/14. I collected 11 of the 13 weeks, but this week(wk12) was denied.
There is no information on the NH unemployment website about how to file for EB. According to one of your articles, NH residence are eligible for up to 86 weeks.
I am starting to freak out, I just found out I was denied tonight, and there in no information on how to file a federal claim (EB) in order to continue the up to 86weeks benefit.
Do you know anything? Please help, I was counting on this to feed my family.
Answering my own question –
In order to recieve Federal benefits you must visit a local office and fill out a form as the form is not available online. Continue to file claim each week even if denied.
I was told it will take 2-3 weeks to be approved and the check would be retroactive.
First off, let me say I’m sorry to hear you are in this situation. Based on the number of emails I’ve received about this, you definitely aren’t the only one. I’ve put up a post discussing the problems some folks have been having with delays or denials from NHES here.
-admin
Hi Scott,
Thanks for taking the time to post a comment.
I can’t say exactly why you might have been denied as I don’t know all the details of your situation but I can say that I’ve received a lot of email from people who have had their EB benefits disrupted. I put a post up talking about the denials in EB benefits here.
Until just a few weeks ago, NH residents were eligible for up to a maximum of 86 weeks of unemployment benefits which included the regular 26 weeks of State benefits, Tiers 1, 2, 3 EUC, and EB benefits. Since the unemployment rate in NH fell below the 6.5% trigger rate for EB, NH residents are generally no longer eligible for those benefits.
-admin
Thanks again Scott.
Just to clarify your comment, I think you are talking specifically about EUC rather than EB. My understanding is that NH residents are no longer eligible for EB after August 14, 2010 which you noted receiving a notice about in your earlier comment. EUC benefits are retroactive which leads me to think that this is what you were referring to.
As I said earlier, I’m not sure why your EUC claim was denied this week. If you provide a little more information on it, I might be able to help you out.
-admin