I still don’t buy that 53 weeks number. Thats a whole year of extended benefits, on top of the standard 6 to 9 months maximum. While I would say without a doubt thats going to be needed right now, I don’t buy that an entire year of extended unemployment benefits was just added out of nowhere by congress. I remember back when Porkulus was being pushed through, there was a small portion of it, that Obama claimed was to extend unemployment for only 12 weeks beyond the standard limit. 53 weeks? Not buying that number. I know people who have been unemployed for over a year now, have run out of benefits, and either taping into retirement emergency funds to live day to day, or basically packed up what belongings they couldn’t sell or pawn, and moved back with their parents. I’m sure there are plenty way worse off than even that scenerio.
And this is not the first time unemployment benefits have been extended, as some here might have you believe. Also happened in the early 90’s.