Exhaustion of Jobless Benefits

Posted on July 7, 2010 by townsend

• No work, and now no safety net, By Diane Stafford, June 30, 2010, Kansas City Star: “In just one week and in just one state – last week in Missouri – more than 8,300 people fell through the unemployment insurance safety net. Actually, their nets were removed. The result: Those who have lost jobless benefits already are turning in greater numbers to food pantries and other emergency aid programs, both government and nonprofit. ‘We’re hearing from more people needing assistance,’ said Ron Howard, spokesman for the United Way of Greater Kansas City. ‘Our 2-1-1 call center is seeing an increase in calls, especially from first-time callers. Without a doubt, the loss of that unemployment check is a contributing factor.’ Loss of jobs and jobless benefits also is contributing to a rise in applications for Social Security disability payments from unsuccessful job hunters. That search for subsistence funds revved up last month after the U.S. Senate rejected a bill that would have included more than $35 billion to fund another extension of emergency unemployment assistance…”
• Jobless benefits running out for 147,000 Floridians this week, By Jim Stratton, July 7, 2010, Orlando Sentinel: “More than 147,000 Floridians will run out of unemployment benefits this week because the U.S. Senate, before leaving on a weeklong summer vacation, was unable to reach an agreement on how to keep payments flowing. By the end of next week, the number will rise to 175,000 unless lawmakers reauthorize the federal legislation that has provided emergency payments to the long-term unemployed. The standoff pits deficit hawks – Republicans primarily – against Democrats in a battle of politics and economic policy. The GOP says the country simply can’t afford to reauthorize the benefits package – it would cost about $34 billion – unless money is found from somewhere else in the federal budget. But Democrats and other supporters of the measure say it’s important to keep checks moving, even if that means borrowing the money and adding to the deficit…”