New Developments on Federal Unemployment Extensions (Up-dated December 26, 2012)
California Employment Development Department:
en Español12/26/12 4:00 p.m.
Updated: Number of individuals who have run out of benefits is now over 928,600.
We are fast approaching the end of the federal extensions of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits here in California. According to current federal law, the last payable week ending date for all federal extensions is December 29, 2012. Unless Congress changes the law, no further extension benefits can be paid for any weeks spent unemployed after the week ending date of December 29, 2012, even if someone may have a balance remaining on a federal extension claim.
Earlier this year, the federal government had provided California and other high unemployment states up to 73 weeks of additional and regular state unemployment benefits through various tiers of federal extensions. The total extension benefits available have declined.
As we get closer to the end of the year, the weeks of federal extensions will continue to wind down and most eligible unemployed workers will not qualify for any or all of the federal extensions (Tiers 1 – 4). The majority of unemployed workers with a regular claim who qualified for 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits, claimed full weeks of benefits since the start of their claims, and had no breaks in collecting benefits (i.e., returned to work) could anticipate the following based on when their regular claim started:
- For regular claims that started after mid-August 2012, all unemployed workers will not qualify for any federal extension benefits when their regular claim ends.
- For regular claims that started after February 2012, the majority of unemployed workers may potentially qualify for up to 14 weeks in Tier 1 when their regular claim ends but not the maximum benefits available in Tiers 2-4.
- For regular claims that started after October 2011, the majority of unemployed workers may potentially qualify for up to 20 weeks in Tier 1 and up to 14 weeks in Tier 2 when their regular claim ends but not the maximum benefits available in Tier 3 and Tier 4.
- For regular claims that started after August 2011, the majority of unemployed workers may potentially qualify for up to 20 weeks in Tier 1, up to 14 weeks in Tier 2, and up to 9 weeks in Tier 3 when their regular claim ends but not the maximum benefits available in Tier 4.
- For regular claims that started after May 2011, the majority of unemployed workers may potentially qualify for up to 83 weeks available in Tier 1-4 when their regular claim ends.
Regardless of when your regular claim or extension benefits start, December 29, 2012, will be the last week ending date that EDD can pay federal extension (Tiers 1 – 4) benefits to eligible unemployed workers, even if someone is currently unemployed or has a remaining balance on their federal extension.
Potential Maximum Weeks of Benefits Provided
Here is a breakdown of the filing deadlines for federal extension benefits and the total maximum weeks of unemployment benefits available in California. The total number of potential maximum weeks of benefits available depends on when your regular UI claim and extensions are filed.
| Claim/ Extension Filing Date | Feb 19 – May 6 2012 | May 13 – May 20 2012 | May 27 – Aug 26 2012 | Sep 2 – Dec 23 2012 | Claim/Extension Filing Deadline Date | Last Payable Week Ending Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Claim |
Up to 26 weeks | Up to 26 weeks | Up to 26 weeks | Up to 26 weeks | Once someone becomes unemployed | Once someone collects all available benefits or the claim ends, whichever occurs first |
| Tier I | Up to 20 weeks | Up to 20 weeks | Up to 20 weeks | Up to 14 weeks | December 23, 2012 | December 29, 2012* |
| Tier 2 | Up to 14 weeks | Up to 14 weeks | Up to 14 weeks | Up to 14 weeks | December 23, 2012 | December 29, 2012* |
| Tier 3 | Up to 13 weeks | Up to 13 weeks | Up to 13 weeks | Up to 9 weeks | December 23, 2012 | December 29, 2012* |
| Tier 4 | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 16 weeks | Up to 6 weeks | Up to 10 weeks | December 23, 2012 | December 29, 2012* |
| Separate FED-ED |
Up to 20 weeks | 0 weeks | 0 weeks | 0 weeks | May 6, 2012 | May 12, 2012 |
| TOTAL | Up to 99 weeks | Up to 89 weeks | Up to 79 weeks | Up to 73 weeks |
*There are special claims that have a week ending date other than Saturday. In those cases, benefits may be payable for the week ending January 2, 2013.
Work Search Requirements for Eligibility of Extensions Benefits
The most recent federal legislation on extension benefits requires individuals to meet specific work search requirements to be paid benefits on their federal extensions. Those collecting federal extensions could lose their benefits if they fail to comply with the work search requirements of the federal law. Individuals collecting regular UI benefits and federal extension benefits have always been required to look for work. However, this legislation requires individuals collecting federal extension benefits (Tiers 1-4) to also meet the following work search requirements, in addition to meeting all other UI eligibility requirements:
- Document their work search efforts, which now must include contacts with at least three different employers each week; and
- Provide their work search documentation upon request to the EDD; and
- Ensure they are registered in EDD’s CalJOBSSM, California’s online job listing and resume service, by entering or updating their résumé in the system.
In addition, those individuals collecting benefits on the first or second tier of federal extension benefits must appear at local One-Stop Career Centers to learn about employment services offered by the EDD and local partners, and to verify that they are complying with UI eligibility requirements. Individuals who must complete these mandatory Reemployment and Eligibility Assessments (REA) appointments will receive notices on appointment details. They could lose their benefits if they fail to appear for that appointment and/or fail to comply with other requirements of the law.
For more information on the work search requirements, please visit our frequently asked questions on the FAQ – Extended Unemployment Benefits page.
Current Benefits Status
Currently, there are more than 920,000 people certifying for benefits in California. The majority of these customers are collecting on a federal extension claim while the remainder are somewhere in the midst of a regular unemployment claim.
Between regular and federal extension benefits, the EDD has paid a total of $17.1 billion in benefits for calendar year 2011 and $9.3 billion so far this year (as of August 16, 2012), and is currently paying about $284 million a week. These benefits provide critical sustenance to unemployed workers and their families, in addition to local businesses where much of the benefits are spent on basic needs.
Customers Who Have Run Out of Maximum Benefits
As of December 24, 2012, there have been close to 928,600 unemployed workers in California who have run out of all available benefits.
Unemployed individuals may be eligible for assistance to meet basic needs as well as other services such as health care, counseling, employment and training assistance. For more information, read the Assistance for Unemployed California Residents flyer and the Job Dislocation Brochure: English | Spanish.
For any further developments in the Unemployment Insurance program, as well as all other EDD programs and services, we encourage our customers watch for updates on our Web siteand on our EDD Twitter and Facebook pages
