Unemployment Insurance Tracker

Propublica.org ^ | Jan 20, 2010 | Olga Pierce and Jeff Larson

[Errant]

The unemployment insurance system is in crisis due to a combination skyrocketing unemployment and – in some cases – poor planning. A record 20 million Americans collected unemployment benefits last year, and twenty-six states have run out of funds and been forced to borrow from the federal government, raise taxes, or cut benefits. In many other states the situation is deteriorating fast. Using near real-time data on state revenues and the benefits they pay out, we estimate how long state trust funds will hold up. Click on a state to find the latest, plus historical data, and details on tax increases and benefit cuts. (Updated Weekly: last update July 01, 2010)

[Errant]

Link to the Propublica.org website where you can click on different states for information on their current status of unemployment insurance funding.

[CommieCutter]

“A record 20 million Americans collected unemployment benefits last year,”

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Wasn’t unemployment peaked out at 10.8% in the 1980’s?

This alone reveals that the 9.whatever percent UE rate we have is bogus if 20 million is a record.

[CommieCutter]

“A record 20 million Americans collected unemployment benefits last year,”

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Wasn’t unemployment peaked out at 10.8% in the 1980’s?

This alone reveals that the 9.whatever percent UE rate we have is bogus if 20 million is a record.

[Errant]

It looks like the states have borrowed about 38.5B dollars to date to help keep their unemployment insurance programs going.

[Errant]

What’s the percentage of Americans that are able to work?

[BenKenobi]

Hmm?

Larger workforce means that while there are more unemployed, that the overall percentage could still be lower.

[y6162]

I live in Ct and filed for unemployment in June. My company is making us take 20 unpaid furlough days.

I applied on 6/7 and received a check on 6/13.

Pretty good turnaround.

[Errant]

CT borrowed 498.5M from the Feds and has 313.8M remaining! Go get it Tiger!!

[y6162]

“CT borrowed 498.5M from the Feds and has 313.8M remaining! Go get it Tiger!!”

I have got feedback from left wingers no less, that taking unemployment is shameful. Is that what you’re saying?

[Errant]

The following states are projected to have an increase in available unemployment insurance funding:

Alaska
DC
Mississippi
New Hampshire
South Dakota
Tennessee
West Virginia

[Errant]

Not at all. I wouldn't hesitate to get what you can while it's available. After all, that's why your employer paid the insurance premium and I certainly would be doing the same if I were in the same circumstance.

If I where you though, I would be making some long term plans in case your companies business doesn't improve or your state runs out of funds since they've had to borrow from the feds already.

If the economy continues to get worsen, which I believe it will, this program may not be available for others 1-2 years down the road.

Best of luck to you and I hope things work our for you and I'm sorry to hear about your hardship. Hang in there and continue to stay on top of things as you appear to be doing.

[CommieCutter]

I bet you’re right.

[y6162]

I’m 61. My long term plan is to break 90 at golf.

If I get permanently laid off, I think I’d retire. There’s some talk of an early retirement deal as well.

[philetus]

You got enough savings to retire comfortably?

[ItsOurTimeNow]

The Unemployment Insurance commission here in KY is about as liberal with these benefits as any group can get. Having terminated several employees for gross absenteeism, and watching the UIC hand over benefits to them after the Hearings, it’s become a “why bother” effort for me.

No wonder they’re broke - they give it away, simply because it’s not their money.

I’ve had people tell me that they’d “make” more on unemployment than actually working, so they turn down job offers.

I’ve had others tell me they weren’t looking for work right now, that they wanted to wait until their Unemployment Benefits ran out, and then start looking. Basically, an 18 month vacation.

Welcome to the Obama economy...where you can “earn” money staying at home doing nothing when there’s plenty of jobs to be had.

[y6162]

I could retire and downsize, sell the house, buy a smaller one in the Villages.

I have decent IRA/401K nest egg.

I have been paying for health retirement insurance for 20 years. Health Insurance will cost me and spouse $50 a month.

Have a monthly pension worth about social security and spouse and I have Social Security.

The only downside is that I can’t afford to live very long. =)

[Errant]

If the early retirement deal looks okay, I'd take it. You're retirement income can serve as a base while you do something else for income if you need to.

As we get older, our time remaining becomes very precious and I'd make sure I didn't sell my time too cheaply above what you and your family need for subsistence and to stay happy by affording the golf course fees.

:)

[TornadoAlley3]

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