Will the federal govt shaft us too on unemployment?

November 30, 2010 8:47 AM

How will the end of extended unemployment benefits on the federal level affect my wife on Massachusetts unemployment?

My wife just renewed her unemployment after I guess the first 26 weeks. I see now at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/29/food-banks-bracing-for-en_n_789198.html

that federal benefits are being cut. I am not clear if this touches her or not. I know Mass has some weird unemployment laws so I am not clear about this. I don't want to freak her out if it will not affect her so I am hoping someone can fill me in.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)

I think they're not cutting benefits, they're just not extending them for people who have already had 99 weeks of unemployment. If your wife has less then 99 weeks, she should be fine.
posted by Melismata at 9:06 AM on November 30, 2010

Is that just in MA? In MD they are cutting off at 26 weeks for me. I think because she renewed before the deadline she is fine for 26 more weeks. Call the UI office.
posted by josher71 at 9:12 AM on November 30, 2010

Woops, I may have been wrong about that. This article explains a little more.
posted by Melismata at 9:13 AM on November 30, 2010

I believe she JUST made the cutoff for Tier 1. So, she will get Tier 1 for 20 weeks then, unless Congress votes to extend benefits, she will go onto Tier 2 but receive no money.
posted by CodeMonkey at 4:44 PM on November 30, 2010