That’s largely due to the expiration of temporary federal policies enacted in March 2020 and which extended to Labor Day last year. Those policies raised the amount of weekly benefits, increased the duration of aid and greatly expanded the categories of workers who qualify.
“The big difference [now] is the programs that were available during the pandemic [are no longer] available.
Lower benefit amounts
Unemployment insurance is a joint state-federal program. Certain aspects, such as weekly benefit amount, vary considerably from state to state.
States pay benefits up to a weekly maximum. That cap is less than $300 a week in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, while aid can max out over $600 a week in New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington state.
The federal government paid an additional $600 a week to all unemployment recipients for about four months in 2020; that supplement fell to $300 a week for periods of 2020 and 2021 before ending nationwide in September.
That federal stipend is no longer available. Without it, the average American received $355 a week from the unemployment system in the first quarter of 2022, according to Labor Department data. Those benefits replaced about 38% of prelayoff wages, on average.
Shorter benefit duration
States also set a maximum duration of benefits. Generally, recipients can collect unemployment insurance for up to 26 weeks. But there are some exceptions.
As layoffs loom, unemployment benefits look a lot different from last year. Here’s what you need to know before you file
All I can say is become marketable.....Maybe wash your ass and brush your teeth.....And wear a suit made out of something approaching cloth.
“The big difference [now] is the programs that were available during the pandemic [are no longer] available.
Lower benefit amounts
Unemployment insurance is a joint state-federal program. Certain aspects, such as weekly benefit amount, vary considerably from state to state.
States pay benefits up to a weekly maximum. That cap is less than $300 a week in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, while aid can max out over $600 a week in New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington state.
The federal government paid an additional $600 a week to all unemployment recipients for about four months in 2020; that supplement fell to $300 a week for periods of 2020 and 2021 before ending nationwide in September.
That federal stipend is no longer available. Without it, the average American received $355 a week from the unemployment system in the first quarter of 2022, according to Labor Department data. Those benefits replaced about 38% of prelayoff wages, on average.
Shorter benefit duration
States also set a maximum duration of benefits. Generally, recipients can collect unemployment insurance for up to 26 weeks. But there are some exceptions.
As layoffs loom, unemployment benefits look a lot different from last year. Here’s what you need to know before you file
All I can say is become marketable.....Maybe wash your ass and brush your teeth.....And wear a suit made out of something approaching cloth.
