Unemployment Benefits still capped at 99 weeks in Tax Deal

FDL ^ | December 6, 2010 | David Dayen

[NRG1973]

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In exchange, extended unemployment benefits between 26 and 99 weeks will be continued for 13 months, to the end of December 2011 (costing around $65 billion).

[NRG1973]

Extended benefits for the unemployed will still remain at 99 weeks under this deal. That is after 99 weeks of unemployment recipients do not get additional unemployment.

This is entirely differnt than what some FR posters have been stating. Some psoters have, erroneously, said the deal allowed for unemployment benefits to run for 155 weeks.

[silverleaf]

$65 BILLION!

What pot of money is this coming from? Increased taxes on the “rich” employers?

[traderrob6]

Then all is OK.

[NRG1973]

By the way, there are many folks on the left who are livid about this...they wanted unemployment benefits extended for an indefinate period. This is as big a deal to them as the tax cuts for the wealthy.

[Ann Archy]

Should be 25% less after so many weeks, then 50% less after a short period, then 75% Less after that and then NOTHING except Food Stamps.

[icwhatudo]

Thanks for helping clear this up. Its amazing how bad the reporting from the media has been on this key point.

[30Moves]

I just saw Bill Bennett on MSMBC and Mika asked him: isn’t this hypocrisy for the Republicans to get this tax deal and not pay for it?

Bennett: They will when they take power in the house with Paul Ryan as the Chairman of the Budget Committee.

[ConjunctionJunction]

ABC News is saying it:

“extending 99 weeks’ worth of unemployment insurance benefits for an additional 13 months for approximately nine million Americans – without being offset by spending cuts;”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/12/president-obamas-outline-of-possible-yet-not-quite-done-deal-on-tax-cuts-including-a-120-billion-pay.html

[bert]

-—they wanted unemployment benefits extended for an indefinate period. -—

Unemployment benefits is a misnomer. What they want but won’t say is a permanent Dole. They want an Andy Capp Brit dole in America

They want welfare gussied up as unemployment benefits.

[NRG1973]

Should be 25% less after so many weeks, then 50% less after a short period, then 75% Less after that and then NOTHING except Food Stamps.

I totally agree!!! Thats the way to wean people off of unemployment and encourage them to get a job. I know some folks who are receiving unemployment for 99 weeks even though their spouse still is fully employed. In those cases unemployment is a supplement to the first income and a deterent to finding a job. One guy won't find a job until the unemployment runs out because he wants to get back into the same profession (banking business) he got laid off from. He's looking to get in at the same pay level, too. With the wife's paycheck and unemployment they are living 'pretty high on the hog'.

[End Times Sentinel]

While I truly feel for those who are unemployed, maybe after 99 weeks, it’s time to consider another line of work. I’ve done landscaping, construction, valet, and carried people’s bags at a hotel. Not my favorite thing in the world to do, but I was able to feed my family.

[Vermont Lt]

Its coming from all of the social security taxes we are collecting. Oh, wait....really? We are cutting those too? Never mind,

[G Larry]

Socialists know the importance of maximizing government dependence in the quest to buy votes.

Obama speaks of welfare and unemployment insurance as though they represent an acceptable income level.

[not2worry]

Yes, there should be a sliding scale going downwards to ZERO on unemployment benefits.

I don't understand why Congress hasn't come up with something like this. It is probably too simple of a solution.

[luvbach1]

And after 99 weeks, then what? Does anyone think employment will rise significantly under Obamanomics?

[RC one]

Obama didn’t get anything in this deal. I imagine that means there was an enormous amount of log rolling going on with regards to DADT, the dream act, etc. Still, good to know that unemployment wasn’t extended 155 weeks.

[MsLady]

So what they are saying is, the 99 weeks will be extended for the next 13 months. As in, if you become unemployed in the next 13 months you will get 99 weeks of unemployment. Is that right?

[Rational Thought]

Either way, demonizing the unemployed seems wrong. What are we saying here? That the Obama economy is actually not bad? There are plenty of jobs available?

I kind of look at this like those who have been inflicted with some sort of deadly disease. I wouldn't blame those infected (in most cases). Instead, I would search for the cause and the cure.

The cause of high unemployment is the Obama administration. The cure is to take power back and rescind their actions.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The control the printing presses, do they not?

[MsLady]

That’s what my hubby says. To many are staying on the unemployment instead of taking an inferior job from what they had before.