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Unemployment benefits extended; special storm benefits added

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By The Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Jul 07, 2008 - 08:47:04 am CDT

Nebraska workers who have exhausted their unemployment benefits may apply for extended benefits beginning today.

Congress approved and President Bush signed the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits to the current maximum of 26 weeks, so those who are eligible may receive up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits.

In a press release, Commissioner of Labor Fernando Lecuona III said, “We are making the necessary preparations to process extended benefits for Nebraskans who have lost their jobs. Our outreach effort will include nearly 21,000 citizens who will be notified that they may be eligible for extended benefits. This will bridge the gap for Nebraska families struggling to find employment.”

The legislation provides that the federal government will pay 100 percent of the costs to extend the benefits.

Nebraskans will qualify for the extended benefit if their regular unemployment benefit year ended no earlier than May 1, 2007, and if they worked for at least 20 weeks before becoming unemployed, according to the release. The extended benefits program will be in effect through March 31, 2009.

Upon receipt of a notification of potential eligibility for extended benefit claims, individuals should call 402-458-2500. Nebraska Claims Center staff will be available to provide assistance.

In another announcement,  Lecuona said people working in the counties of Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Douglas, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kearney, Platt, Richardson, Sarpy, and Saunders who are unemployed due to the recent severe storms, tornados and flooding, may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Individuals out of work as a result of the recent tornados and flooding that struck these counties beginning May 22, 2008, through Tuesday, June 24, 2008 may be eligible for Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance. 

This program provides benefits to individuals not covered under a state’s regular unemployment insurance program or Federal extended benefits program.

Qualified persons may include self-employed workers, farm workers, and other self-employed individuals not eligible under other unemployment insurance programs. This includes those who are unable to work because of the injury resulting from the disaster; individuals whose workplace is or was inaccessible or closed as a result of the disaster and individuals who were required to evacuate to a location making their workplace inaccessible.

Individuals should file claims as soon as possible, but no later then August 4, 2008, the state Labor Department said.

Unemployment insurance claims filing and general questions about the program can be made by telephoning the Nebraska Claims Center at 402-458-2500


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please wrote on July 7, 2008 11:14 am:
" so it takes 39 weeks to find a job if you want a job you should have no problem finding one in 4 weeks. "

 Please please wrote on July 7, 2008 11:47 am:
" Many of these people were employed in rural areas, where there aren't a lot of jobs to choose from. Many of them have families and have to consider school, spouse employment, a home- they can't just walk away and go find a job. Many of these people actually have some loyalty toward their former employer and are trying to be patient while the business gets their stuff back on line. Most intelligent, educated people know this. It's a shame that there is always someone who has to have a negative opinion about something they know nothing about. "

 CS wrote on July 7, 2008 12:04 pm:
" While I have worked jobs because I HAD to, I will not take a job that is dead end just for that reason. The whole point of unemployment benefits is not just to shovel the person off to the next most available job. In jobs that = careers, you can't just 'go find another job'-this isn't working at Arby's you know. "

 Been there wrote on July 7, 2008 12:55 pm:
" I have been on unemployment in the past because I was laid off from my job. I applied for numerous jobs each week and it took almost 4 months to secure employment that was full time with benefits and I ended up taking a significant cut in pay to take the job. I am glad to see they have extended the benefits. When I was on unemployment you could only receive benefits for 6 months. The State also needs to look at increasing what they pay a week. It is ridiculous when you are making a decent wage to lose your job through no fault of your own and make less then 6.50 per hour on unemployment especially when you pay into unemployment while you work. It is impossible to pay your living expenses and house payment or rent on that along with food, gas, etc. Surronding states pay so much more for unemployment sometimes upwards of 100 to 150 a week more. Nebraska needs to look at changing. "

 Wake up wrote on July 7, 2008 1:07 pm:
" The 39 weeks gives the person just enough time to have a child so that they can collect government benefits for bearing children right after their unemployment runs out. Better up the taxes so we can continue to pay for the lazy.
Jobs aren't always supposed to be fun, that is why they pay you to go....otherwise it would be a hobby. "

 To Please wrote on July 7, 2008 2:05 pm:
" If you've never had to beat the pavement to find a new job that will pay for the life style you and your family are used to, or if you're young enough that you have a long working path in front of you, you can make such a statement without hesitation. If you walk a mile in another person's shoes - someone older and/or with life obligations to account for -- you'll find that it's not SO easy to just find another job. If you're older and made the same statement, then, you've been very fortunate. "

 Eric wrote on July 7, 2008 4:30 pm:
" Come on all you fine citizens who have never lost a job in a bad economy. It isnt as easy as you think to find employment right now. But it is easy to ridicule those of us who have lost a job through no fault of our own. What upstanding citizens you must be. Your mothers must be very proud of you. "

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