Hallelujah Almighty, the government has extended unemployment benefits.  But not so fast, the extension has stripped some of the benefits you were used to.  New York State Labor Commissioner Colleen Gardner has done a great job in the above video (text below) explaining all the things you need to know.  This is a must-watch.

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Text of Commissioner Gardner’s Message on July 22, 2010

Hello New York.  

On behalf of Governor David Paterson, I am pleased to inform you that,  after nearly two months of debate, Congress finally delivered for unemployed families in New York and passed an extension of unemployment insurance.  

This is great news.

During this time, close to two hundred thousand New Yorkers have gone without any income and many more were worried that their UI benefits, too, would soon lapse.

Many were on the verge of giving up hope.

I hear their stories when I meet them at our One-Stop Career Centers. 

And I read their stories online - both on our blog and Facebook pages.

They’re heartbreaking. 

For them, relief is finally here and a bit of hope is restored.

This is what we know:

The extension will be retroactive to June 2, 2010.   

This is critical for New Yorkers who have gone without any income for many weeks now.

If you had your benefits stopped the week of June 6 or after, you will receive a lump sum payment for those back weeks in your accounts.

Our Labor Department staff is working hard and our goal is to restore your benefits by the middle of next week.

Our hope is that this money will provide a bit of distance between you and those bills that have been creeping up on you during this time of uncertainty.

So please continue to claim weekly benefits in the way you usually do, unless you have received instructions to file a new claim.

And the bill provides for extensions through November 28, 2010.

Now that’s the good news. 

But there is still a bit of bad news that I need to bring to your attention. 

First, unfortunately, the new legislation does not extend the additional $25 dollars in weekly benefits that were included under the stimulus package.

Essentially, New Yorkers will be out $100 a month that they previously counted on.

Nor does it continue COBRA health care subsidies for those who lose their jobs after May 31st.

Nor does it provide funding for summer youth employment programs that are still desperately needed.

And, there is nothing currently on the horizon which would extend benefits to the nearly 73,000 New Yorkers who have exhausted all 99 weeks of benefits.

The stories of the 99 weekers, as they call themselves, are especially devastating. 

Stacey from Central New York, who sent out 380 resumes in two years and still hasn’t found a job.

Maria from the Bronx, who says that work made her feel strong and able, confident and independent.  Now she barely smiles anymore. 

Melissa from the Hudson Valley, who is terrified that she and her children will soon have to live in their car. 

Go to the Department of Labor Facebook page, sometimes the rhetoric of the 99 weekers is heated, and rightfully so. 

They want to work, they are frustrated and scared. 

If you are an employer out there and looking to hire, please come to the Labor Department.  We can help.

If you’re unemployed and haven’t visited us in awhile, come back to our one stop career centers or visit us online to find out more about how we can help you. 

Or visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov to find out about programs that can keep your families afloat right now.

Now there’s one more piece of news that I need to deliver.

New York State’s 3 month average unemployment rate has decreased to 8.3%. 

This is now below the 8.5% average that is needed to trigger 6 weeks of additional benefits under Tier 4.

If you are not eligible to claim Tier 4 benefits by August 15, you will not be able to receive them at this time.   

After August 15, the unemployed in New York will move from Tier 3 to Extended Benefits and receive a maximum of 93 weeks of UI benefits.  

There is one sticking point here.

The UI bill passed by Congress states that the Extended Benefit program will end the week of December 5, which means that most unemployed New Yorkers will not be able to receive a maximum of 93 weeks of benefits.

 December 5th is also the date when claimants will no longer be able to move on to the next Tier of benefits.  

Through the end of the year, we expect that this will impact about 90,000  New Yorkers. 

If anything changes, we’ll keep you updated, but you deserve to know the truth.

Some call this the Great Recession, but this Recession has been anything but great.

We still have an economy with 5 job seekers for every one available job.

We have hundreds of thousands of unemployed New Yorkers living not month to month or week to week, but day to day. 

And thousands of jobs that went away that may not come back. 

But I know that I haven’t given up hope for a better New York, and neither should you.  

I know that better days are still ahead. 

Don’t give up your job search.

Don’t give up sending those resumes out. 

Don’t give up. 

The New York State Department of Labor [and The 405 Club] will be there to help you every step of the way.

Thank you.

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