Congress is on the verge of extending federal unemployment payments to out-of-work Americans, which could benefit up to 10,000 Idahoans whose benefits have expired in the past six weeks. The extended federal benefits ran out at the end of May, and the Idaho Department of Labor’s Bob Fick said those people could see payments from those past six weeks within the next month, if they still haven’t found work.
All of Idaho’s members of Congress have opposed the current plan to extend unemployment benefits because it would add billions to the federal deficit. “Congress should fund for emergencies like unemployment extensions, but it should do so in a manner that doesn’t push even more spending onto future generations,” said Sen. Mike Crapo, who joined with 38 Senate Republicans in opposing the plan. Crapo said that unspent money from the 2009 stimulus plan could fund the six-month extension of unemployment benefits without adding debt.
The plan is expected to be approved by the U.S. House and signed by President Barack Obama this week. The late extension by Congress impacted thousands of Idahoans, though weekly payments will be made retroactively to eligible jobseekers. “We’ve lost about 10,000 to the expiration of the extension, and we’re losing 1,500 a week,” Fick said.
The labor department, which distributes state and federal unemployment benefits, could need several weeks to adjust its database of residents eligible for unemployment benefits due to an aging computer system that manages the database. “The computer system’s close to 30 years old,” Fick told IdahoReporter.com. “It’s been patched up a bunch of times already because of the way Congress has handled the extensions and this stop-start, stop-start situation.” Fick said labor department employees will need to add new work-arounds to the system, because it will initially reject new payments to people who were previously marked as having exhausted their benefits.
The labor department reported in June that 22,000 Idahoans were receiving extended federal benefits, which can last up to 73 weeks beyond Idaho’s benefits, which can last 26 weeks. Not all of those people stopped receiving weekly payments when the benefits elapsed after May 29 because of a tiered system that makes people eligible for federal benefits for a set number of weeks.
Fick said 17,600 Idahoans are currently receiving state unemployment benefits. He said unemployment claims usually go up in August, and that the peak month for unemployment claims is January.
The manner that our Elected official are treating American is disgraceful! Stop foreign Aide—give Americans their money.
I’m a Republican, a veteran and will never vote Republican again. They don’t want to assist needy Americans while they send money over seas and keep the tax breaks for the rich. There is something wrong with this picture. The middle class are greating poorer by the minute. What a shame.
I will also never vote for the GOP again, they have shown that they will help the rich and will do nothing for the people who elected then to office, as far as I’m concerned they should be thrown out I”M DONE NEVER VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN!!!!
The Republicans are not opposed to extending unemployment benefits, they just wanted it to be paid for by using money from the current stimulus package, instead of adding more money to the deficit. Makes perfect sense to me! I understand there is a need for unemployment insurance (my husband has been unemployed for quite some time and is going to school), but there is a lot of abuse of the system. Here’s a thought…maybe we could alleviate some of the abuse if people had to put in so many hours of community service work each week in order to collect those benefits. I know my husband would be happy to be doing some honest hard work right now.
Im not really a political person. But first and foremost, They need to just approve it and sign it help all americans who lost their jobs and houses. That really makes me p.o’d they dont care cuz they have nothing to worry bout they have great jobs, nice houses and are well taken care for. While us hard working people live pay check to paycheck trying to struggle and survive. We worry bout how were gonna pay our rent, put food on the table, and buy things our children need. ugghhhh…that makes me soo infuriated. And these temp agencies have nothing rite now which sux, i had a great job for 3 full years till i got laid off, its sad but theres nothing we have control over. Im hoping even the 4 and 5 tiered people get the help they need. Damn republicans….
[...] keep extended federal unemployment benefits through the end of November. In Idaho, approximately 10,000 people could start receiving unemployment payments again. Eligible individuals could receive payments for the six weeks in which extended federal [...]
I am glad I voted for Obama. Thank You. You have my voice again next time.
The US has always been a give,give country.It is about time we become a country that is proud to take care of it’s self first..
Our government works for ITSELF, not the people who elect them