On hold: H.R.4213: Hope for UI deadline extension, relief from ‘temping penalty’

UPDATE 6/7/10: H.R. 4213 discussion this week; no fifth tier before year’s end

From the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, follow proceedings as they are recorded. There is also a selection of live video, audio and podcast feeds.

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UPDATE 5/28: No decision today on “The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act.” From the Office of the Clerk: “The House adjourned pursuant to H. Con. Res. 282. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on June 8, 2010.”

This means that the programs funding the Extended Benefits, Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and the $25 weekly stimulus payment will terminate, as originally scheduled, on May 31. H.R. 4213 proposes extending these programs through November of 2010. See page 12 of the summary provided by the House Ways and Means Committee.

Please note that this affects unemployed individuals differently, depending on state of residence, current unemployment tier and a number of other factors.

Please check the links below for details on H.R. 4213 and related discussions.

(Expired updates deleted by author)

UPDATE 5/21 9:36 a.m. PDT: From the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, follow today’s proceedings as they are recorded. There is also a selection of live video, audio and podcast feeds.

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The House Committee on Ways and Means is discussing H.R.4213 this week. This bill, called “The American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act,” would extend the current unemployment benefits program through the end of 2010. It also seeks to eliminate the dramatic loss of benefits incurred by some claimants taking on temp work as they seek permanent, full time employment.

A summary of the bill can be found here, with the issues in this post detailed on p. 12.

As of today (5/20/10), the $25 weekly emergency supplement, along with Emergency Unemployment Compensation and the Federal Extended Benefits (EB) are scheduled to expire at the end of the month (May 31, 2010).

Please note that this bill does not add extra weeks of employment (no Tier Five) for the millions of 99ers. It simply extends those aspects of the current program which are due to expire in a couple of weeks.

Here’s the Ways and Means Committee’s FAQ list about unemployment insurance.

UPDATE 5/21 From the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, follow proceedings as they are recorded. There is also a selection of live video, audio and podcast feeds.

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RELATED:

Senators Kerry, Reed move to stop benefits penalties for temp work

No Tier 5 extension yet: Here’s the contact list for senators, reps

Senators Kerry, Reed move to stop benefits penalties for temp work

The Boston Globe addressed the issue of temp work and jobless benefits loss in Robert Gavin’s March 12, 2010 article “N.E. Democrats seek to fix unemployment glitch.”

The Globe reports that “Thousands of laid-off workers seeking to renew their benefits for a second year, not uncommon during this recession, were shocked to learn of the penalty for performing some alternate work while looking for a permanent job. When they do, their benefits are recalculated based on the low pay from the part-time or temporary work.

Those who do not work do not risk changes in their benefits when they refile for their second year of benefits.”

According to the Globe, senators Jack Reed of Rhode Island and John F. Kerry of Massachusetts will continue to push for legislation that will allow the unemployed to accept part time work without penalty of lost or slashed benefits.

The government has previously noted the increase in the availability of temporary jobs and considers that a signal of a possible upturn in the country’s economy.

Part of the trick here is that unemployment insurance is partly paid for by a former employer; so once you have taken a temp position, that new employer becomes responsible for your new UI payout, relieving your old employer of that burden. In a way, picking up your original claim award would be somewhat like making your first spouse pay alimony for your second divorce.

Making up the difference will have to come from the state, or else there will have to be more regulations regarding the duration of employment and related insurance liability. As we have stated before, each state handles this differently, so don’t expect this issue to be solved any time soon.

From the official United States Senate website, here is the contact information for state senators. Please note that each state handles unemployment insurance benefits slightly differently.

From the official United States House of Representatives website, here is the website list for representatives from all states.

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RELATED:

Temp work and CA UI benefits: Why so tricky?”

H.R.4213: Hope for UI deadline extension, relief from ‘temping penalty’