General EUC Discussion - Ongoing

Robbi--I take your point about "any excuse." I guess it's just that I think any legislators who oppose help for the unemployed will do that no matter what happens. (Remember that guy who introduced legislation in FL last year to drug test all unemployed on benefits?!) If they didn't use the employer tax, it would have been either another tax to complain about, or else deficit spending to complain about. The thing is, this big percentage hike is only in FL; other states weren't quite so stupid to have to catch up with everything all at once. So it seems unlikely to be a big part of the debate in Congress. And even that FUTA surtax for HR 3548 had only a few zanies making a big deal out of it; the opposition had more to do with wanting other stuff in the bill than actually opposing the content of the bill. And that bill was actually a net plus to companies in trouble by giving them the carryback loss thing with the IRS.

I don't know how they will plan to fund any big package for the unemployed and jobs going into 2010; whatever it is, the pricetag starts around $80 billion or more. I can't imagine that they won't extend those deadlines at least; they already voted for it in one sense with HR 3548; it's just the question of how long will it take them. The bigger question of course is what the heck are they going to do to increase job opportunities.

Whatever happened to that windfall profits tax? I could think of a few select companies for which it would be especially appropriate.

Nancy, I completely agree with everything you've said. Hopefully the media won't make a big deal out of it due to this state's poor planning. I'm sure they will pass the extension or fix the bill, whatever they have to do, but you know as well as I do the last thing we need are more delays for any reason. I got my last check September 9th, so it's been a long stretch for me. And you know, it seems you can't ever catch up because somehow or another a chunk of money always seems to get eaten by some new fee, so it's kind of a catch 22 for us, I'm afraid. Ha! Yeah windfall profits tax. Good concept, but those guys always seem to skate

Somebody posted on OC this morning an article about some companies shorting pension funds and making off with the usual bonuses, etc. Seems to me we always used to look at the goings on in third world countries, where dictators made off with the country's treasury, and shook our heads at how backward they were. Well, I don't see what the difference is here now. And many of us feel just as powerless to stop it.

nancym wrote:Somebody posted on OC this morning an article about some companies shorting pension funds and making off with the usual bonuses, etc. Seems to me we always used to look at the goings on in third world countries, where dictators made off with the country's treasury, and shook our heads at how backward they were. Well, I don't see what the difference is here now. And many of us feel just as powerless to stop it.

Hi Nancy- can u clarify where this was posted? Id like to give it a read. Thanks in advance

sc4ram wrote:
Hi Nancy- can u clarify where this was posted? Id like to give it a read. Thanks in advance

Sure, it was posted by "Athena" this morning:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20091123/ts_usnews/executiveseliminateworkerpensionsget350million

To be honest, I didn't even read this particular story, just the post. If I have to read one more story of inexcusable corporate greed, my head may just explode from the additional anger.

Of course now when I post this, I've read the article, and I've really just had it up to my ears. If I believed in Hell, I would hope these stupid (and I use that term deliberately) bastards rot in hell. And I frankly don't care if the government comes down on them all like a ton of bricks, accusations of "socialism" be damned.
And on top of that, have we simply forgotten what an anti-trust law is?

I admit this thread is getting far afield of the topic. That's what happens when we have to sit around waiting for weeks while getting no change in the December plan from AWI.

If you agree with me that concurrent with giving temporary benefits to the unemployed our government's efforts have to focus on revitalizing employment prospects I urge you to support NELP's efforts.

Ask Congress to Reauthorize ARRA for the Millions of Workers That Will Lose Benefits Without It
Tue, November 24, 2009 9:06:09 PMFrom: National Employment Law Project <nelp@nelp.org>Add to Contacts



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Friends-
Although we won additional weeks of federal extensions earlier this month, existing programs for jobless workers that passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February 2009 (ARRA) will start phasing out at the end of the year. With unemployment remaining high and extending over longer periods, there is a compelling case to reauthorize the ARRA - but we must advocate for it to make it happen, and ensure that ARRA is renewed before the end of the year.

Reauthorizing the ARRA is important because individuals that exhaust regular state benefits or EUC Tier I and Tier II benefits in January will generally not be eligible for further federal extensions. And as many of you have asked, those in high unemployment states will not receive the additional 6 weeks of benefits. Please see our fact sheet on how this phase-out affects different states, and why emergency action is needed. For more information, also check out our recent press release on the expiration of Recovery Act benefits.

Please tell your member of Congress that the UI provisions of the ARRA must be reauthorized without delay. It is unfair for workers to be excluded from benefits that have been granted to others now that the unemployment rate has reached double digits.

Congress has multiple issues to consider and we cannot allow unemployment insurance to get lost in the shuffle. Previous efforts to pass legislation only occurred because unemployed workers throughout the country raised their voices and made themselves heard. We are counting on you once again.

TAKE ACTION: Click here to contact your member of Congress to take immediate action on the issue of the ARRA reauthorization. Forward the action center link http://www.unemployedworkers.org/sites/unemployedworkers/index.php/benefits to everyone you know. Please also call your member of Congress to make sure they hear the message loud and clear by dialing the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121.


Thanks again for everything you have already done.
Your friends at unemployedworkers.org,

Andy, Andriette, Tiphany, Rick, Christine, George, Maurice, Debbie and Judy

http://www.unemployedworkers.org/sites/unemployedworkers/index.php/benefits

After clicking onto this address, simply click "TAKE ACTION" on top left of page.

It will take you to the next page-- enter your zip code. It's that easy!

I have sent several of the "generic" letters already, and have entered my own story at the bottom of the letter.

FLORIDIAINS, we need all the help we can get! NELP is FOR us not against us!

Best wishes to all of you , I hope we can all find something to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving holiday.

I read a item today on another msg board where somebody at AWI was quoted as saying it would be another 2 weeks before their computers would be re-configured for the latest extension. Given my poor experiences with these folks, I made a prediction here over a month ago that we wouldnt receive our first EUC check until Christmas (which was the case with the last EUC enacted last year at this time) . Unfortuantely that prediction is turning out to be more accurate than any of us would like.

Hang in there , in any event we should get some results in December.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I'll add my best wishes here also to everyone. I know many will have perhaps their most dismal Thanksgiving holiday, but I also hope everyone can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel in some way or another.

I have a feeling that we may also see an uneven distribution of EUC3 when they finally get ready to process our claims, just like we did for EB. As soon as that application is available online, they may have to process the first ones to apply, at the same time they are dealing with all the mail-in applications they may get, like last time. I just hope that between the beginning of December and Christmas they will be able to get checks out to everyone that is eligible.

If that doesn't happen, as bad as that will be, it will demonstrate to politicians once and for all just how costly their delays can be, and how risky it is for them to rely on the states to implement anything efficiently.

Whatever your faith or non-faith or beliefs or expectations are, I hope everyone can find at least a tiny bit of peaceful reflection during this holiday.

Thanks nancy. I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving as well. Maybe next week will bring us some good news. Thanks for all you do.
Robin

I hope I am posting this link correctly. It is the statement by Senator Tony Hill about the unemployment tax increase

http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=legislators&Submenu=1&File=111809.html&Directory=legislators/senate/001/press/

grandmom49 wrote:I hope I am posting this link correctly. It is the statement by Senator Tony Hill about the unemployment tax increase

http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/View_Page.pl?Tab=legislators&Submenu=1&File=111809.html&Directory=legislators/senate/001/press/

Ha-ha! Well, that's one way of saying "I told you so" in more than four words!

Let's hope he gets the legislature to reverse the vote. If not it won't matter when AWI gets around to posting the application for EUC3 or reprogramming the system to process claims. The state will not have the money to make the payments.
BTW: I hope everyone is able to find some way to have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone ! The state will not bear the financial burden of EUC 3...the Feds are funding all the extensions, or have I missed something. Look for fast action by the U.S. House on extending the deadline till Dec 2010...the Senate is a different matter. My feeling is by the end of Jan 2010 the 2010 deadline will become law

wanted to wish everyone here, all the great, helpful people in this forum, a Blessed Thanksgiving and hope you will all enjoy it the best you can with family and friends!

UIO! !!!!!! Congrats on your Forum, it's the BEST!

Happy Thanksgiving to All! I haven't posted in a while & I just wanted to let you all know that I appreciate all your posts, support & information. Hope everyone has a blessed day. Enjoy your family and friends!

MiamiVice wrote:wanted to wish everyone here, all the great, helpful people in this forum, a Blessed Thanksgiving and hope you will all enjoy it the best you can with family and friends!

UIO! !!!!!! Congrats on your Forum, it's the BEST!

Thanks Maggi! I knew having a little place to go without all the drama would be for the best, seems like a few hundred more felt the same way too!

Dear UIO,,,,,,i don't like to bother too much, i just have one question that has been bugging me all along and it's kinda important as it will tell me for how long i will have my rent safe.......i finished my EB in the last week of September. I am not getting anything now, of course. Do you think i will be entitled to the 20 weeks that the Senate approved? and when the 13 weeks are up, how will the rest to complete the 20 work out? Thanks, UIO, i trust your information.

Since the first EUC3 compensation week ended Nov 14, does that now mean we will be paid retroactive from that week on? Please let me know. I still cant believe how SLOW the state is when it comes to programming this. Thanks alot guys.

scrappy367 wrote:Since the first EUC3 compensation week ended Nov 14, does that now mean we will be paid retroactive from that week on? Please let me know. I still cant believe how SLOW the state is when it comes to programming this. Thanks alot guys.

Yes, it is "retroactive" in that sense only, that it pays from the date of bill passage, i.e., first week to certify will be Nov8-14. Problem is, we don't know how they will start paying--will it be the first week, and than catch-up weeks, or will they be able to pay out all the back-dated weeks at once. And when they start is still in question.

The latest I heard is from a post on Open Congress from FLarlene. She spoke with Barbara Griffith, who had someone call her back today. That person told her that we would probably be able to start claiming by next week. I was hoping for money by Dec 4, but it looks more like what I thought, by Dec 11 (if that?)

But the message was also that we should keep checking the website for possible updates, especially online applications or claim options. (Not sure if this will appear in the updates section as a general application, or just within our usual link for claims--so I check both each day.)

MiamiVice wrote:Dear UIO,,,,,,i don't like to bother too much, i just have one question that has been bugging me all along and it's kinda important as it will tell me for how long i will have my rent safe.......i finished my EB in the last week of September. I am not getting anything now, of course. Do you think i will be entitled to the 20 weeks that the Senate approved? and when the 13 weeks are up, how will the rest to complete the 20 work out? Thanks, UIO, i trust your information.

Maggie--

I'm not sure if UIO might be away for a bit, so you can find your answer in the thread he created called EUC eligibility, or my new general post on the sequence of benefits linked in that thread and here:
https://unemployed-florida.forumotion.com/senate-bills-state-policies-federal-initiatives-f6/fl-sequence-of-unemployment-benefits-t22.htm#175

The short answer is that yes, you are entitled to all 20 weeks (assuming you the max number of weeks on your original claim), but they can only pay out the 14 weeks for Tier 3 (13 weeks plus the extra week on Tier 2) first. That will take you to Feb 14. At that point if Congress has not acted to extend the cutoff dates for the EUC program, we will have to wait for them in order to get the extra 6 weeks of Tier 4. And also the state has to continue to have an unemployment rate of 8.5% or above 3-month average at that time for Tier 4 to be in effect (extremely likely).

Thank you so much, Nancy, i did notice UIO was not around for a few days, which i think it's because of the Holiday, of course, but yes, i do thank you for your input; This is extremely bad all that is happening, i am holding to the little i have in my purse and it will not last for more than the next two weeks, an unbearable situation, indeed!

so does anyone know when the programming will be done? thanks!

Yeah sometimes I tell you, women suck, too much arguing....just kidding just kidding before Nancy hits me

Had to get out for the holidays and from an arguing monster lol glad to be back though, so who we need to go after first!!!

AWI + EUC =

hellooo UIO!!!! mighty glad to see you back!!!!!

how do you like this darn AWI how long is taking to help us????