Changes in State Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (July 2013)

Changes in state unemployment rates announced last week have resulted in changes in availability of unemployment insurance benefits in Maine, New Jersey, West Virginia, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands.  Changes will take effect between the last week in June and the first two weeks in July as described below. 

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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, Delaware, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, and Michigan.  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 are changing for New Jersey, Maine, West Virginia, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands. 

The Department of Labor announced changes HERE for the above listed states on Thursday, June 27th, as listed below:

• People in Maine Cannot Move to Tier 3:

Maine's TUR has fallen below the 7.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" Tier 3 of EUC08. 

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 21, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Maine fell below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 3 of EUC. The week ending July 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in the Maine who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in Maine will decline from 63 weeks to 54 weeks after July 13, 2013, though people on Tier 3 before July 13th can complete those 9 weeks.

• People in New Jersey Cannot Move to Tier 4:

New Jersey's TUR has fallen below the 9.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" Tier 4 of EUC08.  

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 21, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in New Jersey fell below the 9.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending July 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in the New Jersey who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility.

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in New Jersey will decline from 73 weeks to 63 weeks after July 13, 2013, though people on Tier 4 before July 13th can complete those 10 weeks.

• People in West Virginia Cannot Move to Tier 3: 

West Virginia's TUR has fallen below the 7.0% trigger threshold to remain "on" Tier 3 of EUC08.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 21, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in West Virginia fell below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending July 13, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in the West Virginia who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility. (Note: The state notice at the DOL website reads that claimants in West Virginia "who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility", but I believe that is a misprint. Tier 3 now follows Tier 2, not Tier 4.)

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in West Virginia will decline from 63 weeks to 54 weeks after July 13, 2013, though people on Tier 3 before July 13th can complete those 9 weeks.

• People in Louisiana will qualify for 14 extra weeks under Tier 2 starting July 14, 2013.  

Louisiana's trigger value meets the 6.0% threshold to trigger "on" to Tier 2, but mandatory "off" period in EUC08 delays trigger "on" date. 

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 21, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Louisiana has met the 6.0% trigger rate threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 2 of EUC08. However, Louisiana is currently in a mandatory 13 week "off" period that started April 13, 2013, and will not conclude before July 13, 2013. As a result, Louisiana will remain in an "off" period in Tier 2 of EUC08 through July 13, 2013, and will trigger "on" to Tier 2 of EUC08 effective July 14, 2013. The week beginning July 14, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in Louisiana who have exhausted Tier 1, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 2 eligibility.

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in Louisiana will increase from 40 weeks to 54 weeks starting with the week beginning July 14, 2013.  

• People in the Virgin Islands will qualify for 23 extra weeks under Tier 2 and Tier 3 starting with the week beginning June 30, 2013.

The Virgin Islands trigger value meets the 7.0% threshold to trigger "on" to Tier 2 and Tier 3, but mandatory "off" period in EUC08 delays trigger "on" date.

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on June 7, 2013, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in the Virgin Islands has met the 7.0% trigger rate threshold to trigger "on" in Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08. However, the Virgin Islands is currently in a mandatory 13 week "off" period that started March 31, 2013, and will not conclude before June 29, 2013. As a result, the Virgin Islands will remain in an "off" period in Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08 through June 29, 2013, and will trigger "on" to Tier 2 and Tier 3 of EUC08 effective June 30, 2013. The week beginning June 30, 2013, will be the first week in which EUC08 claimants in the Virgin Islands who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in the Virgin Islands will increase from 40 weeks to 63 weeks starting June 30, 2013. 

Other changes in the last two months:

Changes in Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan in April detailed HERE.

Changes in Alaska, Ohio, and Wisconsin in May detailed HERE.