Unemployment and Jobless Benefits – Michigan

Jobless fear end of their benefits, By Scott Davis, March 5, 2010, Lansing State Journal: “Even with unemployment benefits, Tyson Cowles is feeling a financial vise tighten around him. Jobless for 15 months, the Lansing man is four months behind on his mortgage, and a few weeks ago, he glanced out of his window to see Lansing Board of Water & Light workers about to shut off his utilities for nonpayment. He quickly borrowed $250 from a relative to avoid shutoff. Cowles, 38, a laid-off database designer, worries what will happen if his unemployment benefits expire in May, and he still can’t find work. ‘I have no idea what’s going to happen,’ said Cowles, a husband and father of a 12-year-old girl. ‘There’s other bills to pay.’ Cowles is among more than 16,000 mid-Michigan residents whose unemployment benefits are set to expire in coming months unless Congress takes action to extend the aid…”