Take a look at the CNBC story Sorry, If You’ve Been Unemployed for 99 Weeks,You Are Still Getting Cut Off.
The negotiated “unemployment extension” does NOT mean that unemployment benefits will be extend beyond 99 weeks. The maximum number of weeks that jobless Americans can collect benefits remains at 99 weeks.
Currently, there is a tiered system of benefits in place that allows unemployed individuals to collect benefits for more weeks in states with higher unemployment rates. The “extension” will allow this system to stay in place for an additional 13 months. At present, there are 25 states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent. In those states, unemployment benefits will remain available for 99 weeks for 13 more months.
From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
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What we really need is to get the economy going so there are more jobs available....but ever since Congress (well, one party) refused to pass the $1.5 trillion stimulus economists said we needed at the beginning of 2009, it's been obvious that this is going to be a long downturn..