Resources For Workers
Here you will find summaries of the major benefits and resources available to today’s unemployed workers, including links to government websites designed to help workers access current benefit programs.
Regular & Extended Unemployment Benefits
While there are major gaps in today’s unemployment insurance system, the basic goals have remain unchanged since the program was first created during the Depression - to provide unemployed workers with some insurance against economic hardship and to help those communities hit hardest by unemployment. What follows is more detail on the regular 26 weeks unemployment benefits available in the states and information on the two current federal extensions of benefits.
Regular State Benefits - Learn more about state benefits.
Extended Federal Benefits - Learn more about current extensions of your regular state benefits.
Information for Workers Exhausting Benefits after December 31, 2009.
What You Need to Know If You Lose Your Job- This step by steph guide provides comprehensive directions on the steps you should take once you lose employment.
Health Insurance Premium Assistance
Laid off workers have the right to continue their previous coverage, under a law named COBRA. The recovery act is providing a subsidy that pays for 65% of the cost of the monthly premiums for this continued coverage. To learn more about the subsidy click here: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html. To get benefits workers must be involuntarily terminated from employment. View page 7 of this IRS guidance to see if you fit the definition: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-09-27.pdf. If you were denied help from the COBRA premium plan and want to appeal the denial of benefits please click here http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA/main.html
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Information regarding a special program available to workers who lose their jobs as a result of a disaster.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance - Learn about unemployment insurance benefits for those out of work due to disasters.
Unemployment Benefits, Training & Health Care Benefits for Trade-Impacted Workers
In 2002, Congress revamped the federal benefits available to workers who lost their jobs (or have less work) due to trade imports or exports, called Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Qualifying workers are now entitled to receive career counseling, up to 104 weeks of subsidized retraining (when first approved by the state), extended unemployment benefits of up to 52 weeks while enrolled in training, and a refundable federal income tax credit covering 65% of the cost of certain health insurance (including COBRA coverage). >> Read More.
Local Public Resources for the Unemployed
The federal government funds local "One-Stop Career Centers" to help workers access available employment services and benefits. >> Read More
Looking for additional resources?
That's where the Unemployment LifeLine comes in. It's a one-stop guide that links workers to the resources in their area, and offers the opportunity to talk to others and share
support and lessons learned.