Changes in State Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (May 4th)

Changes in state unemployment rates have resulted in changes in availability of unemployment insurance benefits in Alaska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.  Changes will take effect the first and second weeks of May as described below.

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, the Virgin Islands, Delaware, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, and Michigan.  Please check THIS LINK (How Many Weeks of Unemployment Will I Get?) for details.

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 are changing for Alaska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. 

The Department of Labor announced changes HERE for the above listed states on Thursday, April 25th, as listed below:

• People in Alaska lose Extended Benefits and Cannot Move to Tier 4:

Alaska's IUR has fallen below the 6.0% trigger threshold, to remain "on" in the EB program.Based on data from Alaska for the week ending April 13, 2013, the 13 week insured unemployment rate in Alaska is below the 6.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" in the EB program. The payable period in EB for Alaska will end with the week ending May 4, 2013. 

Alaska's IUR has fallen below the 6.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08.Based on data from Alaska for the week ending April 13, 2013, the 13 week insured unemployment rate in Alaska is below the 6.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending May 4, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC claimants in Alaska can 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 May 4, 2013.

It appears that the maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in Alaska will decline from 86 weeks to 63 weeks after May 4, 2013.

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

Ohio's trigger value meets 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 April 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Ohio has met 7.0% trigger threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08.   The week beginning May 5, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Ohio who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

• People in Wisconsin will qualify for nine extra weeks under Tier 3 starting May 12, 2013. 

Wisconsin' s trigger value meets the 7.0% threshold to trigger "on" to Tier 3, but mandatory "off" period in EUC08 delays trigger "on" date.
Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Wisconsin has met the 7.0 % trigger rate threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 3 of the EUC08 program. 

However, Wisconsin is currently in a 13 week mandatory "off" period that started February 9, 2013, and will not conclude before May 11, 2013. As a result, Wisconsin will remain in an "off" period in Tier 3 of EUC08 through May 11, 2013, and will trigger "on" to Tier 3 of the EUC08 program effective May 12, 2013. The week beginning May 12, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Wisconsin who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.