CHESSNOID

Do you ever wonder why unemployment claims go down while the unemployment rate stays about the same?  This might be part of the answer.  If you are unemployed and your benefits run out, claim numbers go down but since you are unemployed you stay in the unemployment rate.

On the bright side, we all have health care now, right?  Not now?  Maybe next year? Oh, 2014 the benefits kick in.

OC Register:

As many as 130,000 Californians are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits within the next three weeks, based on estimates from the state Employment Development Department. About 3,300 already have fallen off the unemployment rolls.

Currently, the unemployed in California are eligible for up to 99 weeks of benefits — 26 weeks of regular unemployment plus four extensions and so-called FedEd relief.

Loree Levy, an EDD spokeswoman, said it was the first time in two years that the department is seeing large numbers of people running out of benefits.

The state’s estimates are based on people who have gone through all extensions available without working in between.

Levy said that without checking each individual claimant’s situation, it is possible some of the estimated 100,000 to 130,000 due to exhaust their benefits may stay on the unemployment rolls a few weeks longer.

Congress is currently considering legislation that would allow more-recently unemployed to be eligible for some of the extended benefits as well as a 65% government subsidy for COBRA health insurance premiums.  However, none of the bills would add any additional weeks of benefits for those who have received the maximum.

Here’s the breakdown on the weeks of basic unemployment and the extensions available:

• Basic unemployment: 26 weeks
• First tier extension: 20 weeks
• Second tier extension:  14 weeks
• Third tier extension: 13 weeks
• Fourth tier extension: 6 weeks
• FedEd: 20 weeks