1.3 million losing unemployment benefits today

The Post and Courier ^ | December 28, 2013 | BRADLEY KLAPPER Associated Press

[mdittmar]

WASHINGTON - More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend, with potentially significant implications for the recovering U.S. economy. A tense political battle likely looms when Congress reconvenes in the new, midterm election year.

For families dependent on cash assistance, the end of the federal government's "emergency unemployment compensation" will mean some difficult belt-tightening as enrollees lose their average monthly stipend of $1,166.

Jobless rates could drop, but analysts say the economy may suffer with less money for consumers to spend on everything from clothes to cars. Having let the "emergency" program expire as part of a budget deal, it's unclear if Congress has the appetite to start it anew.

An estimated 1.3 million people will be cut off when the federally funded unemployment payments end Saturday.

[COBOL2Java]

Maybe they will finally get a job. And look for a 2016 candidate that will generate jobs, instead of vote-buying welfare handouts.

Get a job? Nah! Just go full Obama like this fat slug!

Shameless Load Boasts On-Air: She Lives GREAT on Welfare, 'Working is Stupid'- 'Taxpayers are Fools'

A recent caller to an Austin radio talk show ('Lucy', 32 y.o., Riverside, TX) -just one of the record 91.5M Americans who've left the US work force- bragged to the host that both she AND her husband 'don't see the need' for working these days... even though they have three young daughters. She said she prefers to live on welfare and 'benefits' so she can 'visit friends and smoke weed all day'...

[Tallguy]

“Jobless rates could drop, but analysts say the economy may suffer with less money for consumers to spend on everything from clothes to cars. Having let the “emergency” program expire as part of a budget deal, it’s unclear if Congress has the appetite to start it anew.”

Only in Nancy & Harry’s Bizzaro-World do the unemployed buy big ticket items like cars.

[Zenjitsuman]

Wouldn’t the opposite be true, more people will be at last forced to look for work.

So wouldn’t the UE rate go up as more people are looking for work.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

I was unemployed for a couple of months this summer and had my benefits cut off because I took a part time job, saw there was no chance to ever make full time and quit to find a full time job. As far as the state was concerned it was just like walking away from a job that was 40 hours+ with benefits. If I met someone who was laid off now I would advise them to sit home and collect a check until you find full time work because if you don’t the state will punish you. Just like people have said, they encourage dependence and punish you for trying to better yourself. I found that out myself.

[Vermont Lt]

I just heard on the news that 140,000 of them are in Mass. 10% in this state alone?

Unbelievable!

[arthurus]

At last, some good news, if just until Congress is back in session.

[Ole Okie]

Go to North Dakota. Lots of jobs there.

Take your hat. It's cold up there atop the drilling rigs.

[Mastador1]

You won’t get an argument on that! it just burns me that there are so many “special” class people being rewarded for nothing while those who have contributed for many years have to practically beg for their due, if the even get it.

[Revel]

Some of these article claim it is 1.6 million with that many more to follow by the end of the year.

The only problem is that according to the governments own numbers there are only 1.3 million receiving the EUC handout at all. So that is the maximum number of people who can lose them.

Denninger did a ticker on this today.

[FoxInSocks]

bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt this weekend

Yes, it must be a shock after two years. That's like someone has been dying of cancer for years, but yeah, I guess it's still true that at the very last instant they suddenly died.

[sergeantdave]

“analysts say the economy may suffer with less money for consumers to spend on everything from clothes to cars.”

Of course. People collecting unemployment buy BMWs, Cadillacs and Ferraris.

I really, really hate the Nazi propagandists at AP.

[pallis]

We can’t have the Obameconomy without heavy casualties. Thank goodness they have Obamacare to help them through the tough times.

[redfreedom]

Precisely! The GOP brand of the Uniparty is equally responsible.

[stevem]

Aren’t there about 90 million unemployed? 1.3 million seems like pretty small potatoes.

[nascarnation]

Aren’t there about 90 million unemployed? 1.3 million seems like pretty small potatoes.

If you're talking United States, no way.

The total >18 population is 237m.

[Secret Agent Man]

1.3 million takers, taking less from fellow maker citizens.

[USCG SimTech]

Why is it that a good hearted law that establishes a “safety net” encourages participants to venture out to the highest building they dare to see if they can survive the jump?

It is this natural law of man that is why such 2-dimensionally thought out laws can never work.

[Intolerant in NJ]

More than 1 million Americans are bracing for a harrowing, post-Christmas jolt as extended federal unemployment benefits come to a sudden halt...few things irritate me more than when I make a contribution to the cancer society or the heart association and a few weeks get a letter thanking me - and asking for another contribution - but at least they thank me - I've heard no one in or out of government thanking all us taxpayers for dumping billions into benefits to keep these people going as long as they have - and now we're all evil, selfish and greedy for not wanting to kick in for another couple of months for everyone - which of course will not make one bit of difference in the employment picture.....

[icwhatudo]

The GOP should vote on continuing benefits for another year...with the provision the money has to paid back once they find a job.

[raybbr]

Ah, I see you took me seriously. Republicans fault will be the media meme to deflect attention away from the dismal Obama economy but that’s about the extent of their culpability.

I didn't take you seriously. I knew you were being sarcastic. I wasn't. The GOP is nothing more than a bunch of eunuchs. They haven't put up a fight against anything in the last two years. Other than Cruz and Lee the GOP fights for the bureaucracy of the fed govt just as hard as the dems.