Changes in State Eligibility for Unemployment Insurance (August 2013)

Changes in state unemployment rates announced last week have resulted in changes in availability of unemployment insurance benefits in California, Rhode Island, and Washington.  Changes will take effect August 10th.

Changes in availability of unemployment insurance benefits in Alaska are also listed.  Those changes will take effect August 24th.  

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There have been changes to available weeks of benefits in North Carolina, Delaware, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi, and Michigan in recent months.  Please check THIS LINK (How Many Weeks of Unemployment Will I Get?) for details.

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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 California, Rhode Island, Washington, and Alaska. 

The Department of Labor announced changes HERE for the above listed states on July 21st and August 3rd, as listed below:

• People in California Cannot Move To Tier 4:

California's TUR has fallen below 9.0% and triggers "off" Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 8/10/2013. 

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in California fell below the 9.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending August 10, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in California who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility.  

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

• People in Rhode Island Cannot Move to Tier 4:  

Rhode Island's TUR has fallen below 9.0% and triggers "off" Tier 4 of EUC08 effective 8/10/2013. 

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Rhode Island fell below the 9.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 4 of EUC08. The week ending August 10, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Rhode Island who have exhausted Tier 3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility. 

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

• People in Washington Cannot Move to Tier 3: 

Washington's TUR has fallen below 7.0% and triggers "off" Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 8/10/2013. 

Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 19, 2013, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate in Washington fell below the 7.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending August 10, 2013, will be the last week in which EUC08 claimants in Washington who have exhausted Tier 2, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.

 The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in Washington will decline from 63 weeks to 54 weeks after August 10, 2013, though people on Tier 3 before August 10th can complete those 9 weeks.

• People in Alaska Cannot Move to Tier 3: 

Alaska's IUR fell below 4.0% and triggers "off" Tier 3 of EUC08 effective 8/24/2013.

Based on data from Alaska for the week ending August 3, 2013, the 13 week insured unemployment rate in Alaska is below the 4.0% trigger rate threshold to remain "on" in Tier 3 of EUC08. The week ending August 24, 2013, is the last week in which EUC claimants in Alaska could exhaust Tier 2 and establish Tier 3 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants could receive any remaining entitlement they had in Tier 3 after August 24, 2013.

The maximum number of weeks of unemployment insurance available in Alaska will decline from 63 weeks to 54 weeks after August 24, 2013, though people on Tier 3 before August 24th can complete those 9 weeks.  

Other changes in the last three months:

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

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

Changes in North Carolina in July detailed HERE.

Changes in Maine, New Jersey, West Virginia, Louisiana, and the Virgin Islands detailed HERE.