Changes in State Eligiblity for Unemployment Insurance as of April 19th

State unemployment rates for March 2013 were announced today, and, with the changes in state rates, there are changes in  weeks of availability of unemployment insurance benefits in some states.

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Update July 24, 2013:  There have been or will be changes to available weeks of benefits in California, Washington, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Maine, New Jersey, West Virginia, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands.   Please check THIS LINK (How Many Weeks of Unemployment Will I Get?) for details.

How Many Weeks of Unemployment Insurance Benefits Will I Get?

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As unemployment insurance benefits are tied into the unemployment rate for your particular state, changes to your state's unemployment rate may increase or decrease the number of weeks of benefits to which you are entitled.

Weeks of unemployment insurance availability have changed for Delaware, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Michigan. 

The Department of Labor announced changes HERE for the above listed states on Thursday, April 18th, as listed below:

• People in Delaware now qualify for nine extra weeks under Tier 3:

"Delaware's trigger value has met the 7.0% trigger threshold, establishing an eligibility period in Tier 3 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Delaware was 7.1%, meeting the 7.0% trigger threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08. This triggers Delaware "on" Tier 3 of the EUC08 program. The week beginning April 7, 2013, is the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Delaware who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility."

• People in Illinois now qualify for ten extra weeks under Tier 4:  

"Illinois' trigger value has met the 9.0% trigger threshold, establishing an eligibility period in Tier 4 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 29, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Illinois has met the 9.0% trigger threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. This triggers Illinois "on" Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. The week beginning April 14, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Illinois who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility."

• People in Alabama on Tier 2 can no longer move to Tier 3: 

"Alabama's trigger value has fallen below the 7.0% threshold and has triggered off of Tier 3 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, Alabama's three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for the 3 month period ending January 2013, was 6.9%, falling below the 7.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08. This triggers Alabama "off" of Tier 3 of the EUC08 program. The week ending April 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Alabama can exhaust Tier 2 and establish Tier 3 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 3 after April 13, 2013."

• People in Mississippi now qualify for ten extra weeks under Tier 4: 

"Mississippi's trigger value exceeds the 9.0% trigger threshold, establishing an eligibility period in Tier 4 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 29, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Mississippi was 9.3%, exceeding the 9.0% trigger threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. This triggers Mississippi "on" Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. The week beginning April 14, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Mississippi who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility."

• People in Louisiana on Tier 1 can no longer move to Tier 2:  

"Louisiana's trigger value has fallen below the 6.0% threshold and has triggered off of Tier 2 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Louisiana was 5.8%, falling below the 6.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" in Tier 2 of EUC08. This triggers Louisiana "off" of Tier 2 of the EUC08 program. The week ending April 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Louisiana can exhaust Tier 1, and establish Tier 2 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 2 after April 13, 2013."

• People in Michigan on Tier 3 can no longer move to Tier 4: 

"Michigan's trigger value has fallen below the 9.0% trigger threshold and has triggered off of Tier 4 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on March 18, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Michigan was 8.9%, falling below the 9.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending April 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Michigan could exhaust Tier 3, and establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 4 after April 13, 2013."