Job Hunters
Post Your Resume
Government Jobs in NY
Colleges and Universities in NY
Apartments/Housing

Employers
Post Jobs Here

NY Unemployed to Get $25 Increase

POSTED on March 5, 2009

ALBANY - Nearly 900,000 people out of work in NY state will get a slight boost in their unemployment checks.

New York State Executive Deputy Commissioner of Labor Mario Musolino announced this week that more than one million unemployed New Yorkers statewide will benefit from the provisions for unemployment insurance compensation that are included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Highlights include:

* Allowing new claims for extended unemployment benefits to be made through December 31, 2009, with benefits payable through May 31, 2010. (Previously, the deadline for applying for extended benefits was March 31, 2009, and no payments could be made beyond August 2009.) It is estimated that this extension will impact 352,000 people statewide, including 14,000 in the Capital Region. New Yorkers are currently eligible to receive 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance benefits and 33 weeks of extended benefits.
* Increasing weekly unemployment insurance benefits by $25 through December 31, 2009. The increase applies to individuals who are collecting both regular and extended unemployment insurance benefits. Approximately 900,000 people statewide and 45,000 people in the Capital Region are expected to receive the increase to their regular benefit payments; and approximately 500,000 people statewide and 20,000 in the Capital Region are expected to receive the increase to their extended benefit payments. The additional payments will be made retroactive to the week ending March 1, 2009.
* Suspending the federal income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment insurance benefits per recipient. This provision is expected to result in an estimated federal tax savings of $215 per beneficiary in 2009.
* Providing $412 million to New York State to replenish the UI Trust Fund, and $29.5 million in administrative funds to help improve claims processing, add staff to field calls and resolve claims, and improve the Shared Work program.

"The federal stimulus bill will provide critical assistance to unemployed New Yorkers at a time when they need it most," said Commissioner Patricia Smith. "To everyone who is struggling to find re-employment at this difficult time, the message is ‘help is on the way.’ Our leaders in Washington have responded to the needs of working families to help them get through this unprecedented economic crisis."

"I urge all New Yorkers who are out of work through no fault of their own to make sure they file for unemployment compensation," Commissioner Smith continued. "I also urge them to visit their local One-Stop Career Center to register for re-employment assistance. The federal stimulus bill also includes funds for worker training, which will become available to states very soon. It is important for workers to remain in contact with their local One-Stop so that they may take advantage of appropriate training opportunities that become available."