Latest Headlines on OCRegister.com
[x] Close
Handling Hard Times ~ Understanding and coping with the economic slowdown.
« Previous Post
Next Post »

Jobless extension checks to begin in early December

November 25th, 2009, 12:05 am · 34 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

The first unemployment extension checks should begin going out the second week of December, reports the California Employment Development Department.

unemployment2Congress approved on Nov.8 at least 14 weeks of additional unemployment for those in California who have exhausted their 79 weeks of benefits, but EDD's antiquated computers weren't up to immediately sending out the checks.

EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy says the computer reprogramming is now almost completed.  The department began sending out letters on Monday, Nov. 23, to an estimated 100,000 who have run out of benefits, advising them they may be eligible for the extension and to "stay tuned" for further information.

Because some of these people have been off the unemployment rolls for nearly two months and may have worked in between, they may be required to fill out a new claim, Levy said.  The EDD will let everyone know what, if any, additional paperwork is needed. Because of the additional verification, extension checks for those who already have exhausted benefits may be delayed beyond the second week of December, she said.

Those who have fallen off the unemployment rolls in the last couple of weeks may only have to resubmit a new claim.  EDD will advise them of what is required to get the extension, Levy said.

In both cases, Levy said the EDD will contact people directly about what they need to do to get the extension.

Unemployment claims will be dated back to Nov. 8, when the new extension was approved.  There will be no retroactive payments before that.  Levy didn't know if the unemployed would get one check covering the weeks back to Nov. 8 or if there would be a series of checks.

Those who have exhausted their benefits face one additional hurdle.  Although the unemployment extension theoretically provided 20 weeks of extended benefits to California and other high-unemployment states, a sunset provision in the February economic stimulus bills limits that to a maximum of 14 weeks.

Unless the sunset provision, which ends in December, is extended by Congress, the unemployed in California will lose out on that additional six weeks of benefits.

Read the latest on the extension benefits at EDD HERE.  The latest can also be followed on EDD's Twitter.

Did you miss these stories on jobs and the economy ...

http://economy.freedomblogging.com/2009/11/05/few-eligible-for-the-full-20-week-jobless-extension/

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • Sphinn
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Mixx
  • Google
Posted in: Economy • • •
 
ADVERTISEMENT

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Reader Comments
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.
  1. Keep it civil and stay on topic.
  2. No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
  3. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.

 34 Comments

  • Average Joe says:
    November 25, 2009 at 5:20 am

    We have elected officials that could care less about the unemployed. If these people were up for a vote regarding an issue for themselves it would be passed in 1 Hr, and retroactively.

    We must elect the right politicians, these actions are the result of electing the same old bags of trash.
    There is no way the unemployed should be jerked around like this.

  • ocobserver says:
    November 25, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Yep. The dem politicians will be clapping like seals when the Nobel Peace Prize messiah sends 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan to join the 300,000 allied boots already on the ground over there to fight 10,000 goat herding Tabiban (Al-Queda has moved to Pakistan, btw). That decision will be instantaneous. But it takes months to help people in America about ready to lose their homes and life savings! hah! "War is Peace" - "Freedom is Slavery" - "Ignorance is Strength".

    Got to reward those bribes from the defense contractors - to include those companies supplying 70,000 american mercenaries in Afghanistan who do not have to play by the 'rules of war'. HAH!

    Welcome to 1984, folks. Glad you could join us!!!

    • rob says:
      November 30, 2009 at 3:37 pm

      Where did you get your info. ? It was the GOP that held up the unemployment ext. 4 weeks and how did you spin it into sending troops to afghanistan. Just ignorance.

      • jay b says:
        December 3, 2009 at 8:51 pm

        Yeah and for your info it's obama and the democrats taking over banks, auto manufacturers and if you birdbrains don't speak up your health care as well. get prepared to have your taxes raised too, you morons. But be prepared next year to lose your gripe of congress as it
        will be like a lions game, a landslide for the GOP you liberal commies
        like so much. So all i got to say is bite me you communists

        • kevin says:
          December 5, 2009 at 6:10 am

          Not only are you ignorant your another delusional scumbag,apparently with an attention span of a
          teabagger.If you think republicants are gonna win
          majorities ever again,your wrong.Come out of your
          hole and join the adults asshole.

  • Rp says:
    November 25, 2009 at 10:28 am

    Has anyone received their notice?

  • JohnB says:
    November 25, 2009 at 11:08 am

    I just picked up my mail, no notice yet. I know of a few people in No. Calif got their notice. The notice only repeated what's on the EDD site.

  • JohnB says:
    November 25, 2009 at 11:09 am

    Average Joe, next year is an election year, expect any extension to get passed alot quicker. They want to win over voters.

  • homeless says:
    November 25, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    I keep on hearing and seeing the streamline media propaganda news say jobless claim is declining, economy is recovering, hundreds of thousands jobs are creadted each month (gosh know what if they pay more than minimal),blah blah blah.....what a bunch of craps. Yet they also say unemployment rate is expected to hit 10.5% next year. lol.

  • Jenny says:
    November 25, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    This is ridiculous, the checks may not come out until January if you have run out for more than two months. I would much rather be working, but each time I get a job, I am replaced by an H-1B East Indian. Almost all the companies in California are now employing H-1B's by the hundreds and thousands. How can this be? Why have we offshored 1 million California jobs overseas, and brought in over 100,000 H-1B engineers and computer programmers to replace American workers. It is horrific, and every state official needs to be replaced by an official who is looking out for American workers. Obviously the current officials have been bought off. And what's with the delay of unemployment checks, just a few hours of programming is all that is needed....does EDD use H-1B programmers like most California state entities? I certainly hope not because this would be a breach in the security of our nation.

  • Sandy Nguyen says:
    November 25, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I just got it today, the issue date was Nov. 23rd.

  • Zombie says:
    November 25, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    People in other states are now reporting getting their extensions. EDD rates a fat "F" for not helping the people of California get their money in a timely fashion. Go to a credit card electronic deposit system instead of this antiquated mailing crap...

  • rp says:
    November 25, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    No notice today either!

  • Average Joe says:
    November 29, 2009 at 12:53 pm

    "extension checks for those who already have exhausted benefits may be delayed beyond the second week of December", she said.

    If a persons checks stopped in early Sept, that will mean a 1/4 year before they get some money.

    So this means everyone in that scenario should pay zero mortgages or bills right? Good Govt , hmm did it take this long to pay off the Banks,AIG,GM,etc,etc.

    When we have a Lobbyist(payoffs) system this is the type of govt we get.

  • RP says:
    November 30, 2009 at 12:35 pm

    I finally received my extended benefits notice last week and then a day later received a notice of unemployment insurance award for zero $$'s because I wasn't working from 6/2008 thru 3/2009. The claim beginning date is 9/2009 thru 9/2010.

    I called EDD and they stated that this is normal......has anyone else received this award letter?

  • tony says:
    November 30, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    at least you guys are hearing something here in nc it maybe the end of Dec.

  • tony says:
    November 30, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    and i am broke as hellllllll

  • Danielle says:
    November 30, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    Has anyone recieved a letter for extension in SC? I called today, and they said that Columbia, SC is still working on the system, which is the main office. Has anyone else heard of this? Everyone seems to have received it last week. I wonder how they determine this, who receives the extension or not???

  • Dee says:
    November 30, 2009 at 8:42 pm

    Haven't heard a word and it's December 1st

  • Barbara Jenkins says:
    December 1, 2009 at 3:24 am

    I so appreciate Mary Ann Milbourn for rying to keep some accurate information flowing about this extension and the plight of the unemployed which includes myself. After closely following the unemployment blogs and the agonizing path of HR 3548 through the Senate, I find it hard to understand how any Christmas tree can be lit this year on any politician's lawn - including the White House - with hardworking families and their children on the streets after losing everything. It is obscene.

  • Dee says:
    December 1, 2009 at 7:52 am

    I do know that if you were on three extensions already, that you do not qualify for benifits. And the more extensions you had, less money will be issued. Obama should have provided a better stimulas plan for the country, and perhaps we would have more jobs available and a better economy. Everything is so lopsided right now, and all I hear is that it should be better by 2010. Sure doesn't appear that way.

  • Girl next door says:
    December 1, 2009 at 8:47 am

    Which Tier of extended benefits are we on? Three or Four?

  • Steve says:
    December 1, 2009 at 10:52 am

    Spoke to Calif Edd thismorning, was told claim forms are delayed again, they where unable to give me any information regarding "When" I will recieve my claim forms, said give it 10 days and if nothing is recieved by then call them back, was also told 7 days ago I would recieve a phone call (Not sure what for) but never recieved that call, calling them gets you no information, and the attitude is terrible, you can tell they don't want to help you, I recieved my mail notification a week ago, but nothing else, It's a terrible feeling to be helpless, why we are left to suffer is amazing, doubt most of us will have a Xmas, not all of us have family who can help

  • Girl next door says:
    December 1, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    I haven't even recieved anything in the mail and I live in SC. The office keeps telling me they know nothing.....they no nothing about what's going on, etc. I find that to be pathetic really. You get put on hold or get a busy signal all day to hear that BS. At least they should tell you that they are in the process of gettting it together. Instead of acting ignorant about it. I have to read off stuff to them fronm the Internet. Good god, they ought to be better prepared for questions and brushed up on what is their field!! SC always has a problem with the system, and the last to send out notices. So it seems.

  • Nick says:
    December 1, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Phone Call , Thats Great! Because my home phone (The # EDD has ,has been disconnected. I still have a cell,but they dont have the #.They said do not contact them.What should I do?

  • kevin says:
    December 2, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    For those of you in sc I have spoken by way of e-mail to the main office in columbia and was told it will take at least 2 weeks to reprogram the computers to allow for those who have been out of work for longer than 79 weeks.That info was passed on to me on friday nov.27

  • scott says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:27 am

    Are these comment coming from SC South Carolina? or SC Southern California? Because the lead story on this blog is a Southern California newspaper. So all of you Carolinars take a hike and get off this blogging site you only make our California unemployment questions and stories that much more confusing please dont comment here again. As for this california its Dec.3-2009 No letters, No phone calls exhausted benifits late Sept.2009 I should be on the list have emailed and us postal letters sent and still no answer to the letters or eligibility question , Went to the local Edd office on 12-02-2009 and was told the letters would not be going out for 3-4 more weeks yet I here on other blogs that some people have received their 4th teir letters during the week of Nov. 23-09 on. Anyone else in SC SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA not sc south carolina recieve a letter or not receive a letter please let me know. I'm going back to Edd tommorow and be the first in line.

  • Jene B. says:
    December 3, 2009 at 8:56 am

    I'm in Southern California, and I did receive a letter that I am "potentially eligible" for the latest unemployment extension last week. But, like everyone else, I have yet to receive any other information. It looks like it's going to be a pretty sad Christmas in my household.

  • scott says:
    December 3, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    thanks jene, I went down to the anaheim Edd office today and was able to at least talk to a rep over the phone to explain my situation wouldn't you think that if you exhausted your 79th wek on Sept 26, 09 that you would fit the latest HR3548 extention to a tee? After all wasn't that extention to be for the long term jobless who have ran out or going to run out before the end of the year? what do you think? anyoneelse exhaust 79 weeks in Sept 09 and get a letter or no letter Thanks

  • Jene B. says:
    December 3, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    Okay, EDD posted an update to their website today indicating that it will take one to two additional weeks IF the testing on their database goes okay. They further explained that the problems are due to their archaic system needing complex programing for the new extension. So, I guess we can all feel better knowing that the reason we cannot pay our bills and feed our families is not a personal issue, but a computer problem.

  • Karen Palmer says:
    December 4, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    EDD Contracts out to Unisys who in turn hire a lot of H1-B engineers and programmers from India (over 1000) that make over 85K a year

    There are millions of Californians out of work, why would EDD use a company that offshores jobs and hires temporary software engineers to do their programming. This is unforgivable.

    In this article from today:

    "So what we have to do here in EDD is we have to go in, and we actually have to update about a half-million lines of code in 25- to 30-year-old programs," EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy said.

    Levy said the delay affects about 117,000 Californians who have exhausted regular benefits and previous extensions. However, she added that number could grow 285,000 is the problem is not fixed by the end of this month.

    "It seems like they would have better prepared themselves for that and put the necessary safeguards in place," said David Taylor, an unemployed satellite installer who came to EDD's Broadway Office in Sacramento.

    Levy said EDD has been working on the problem for several months, using $60 million in federal stimulus money that was earmarked for a computer update. But it is not yet complete.

    Levy said EDD employees and computer programmers from a private contractor will be working through the weekend. They plan to complete testing on the upgrade next week.

    If that works, people would be able to file benefit claims during the week of Dec. 14 and receive a check during the week after that, just in time for Christmas. Maybe.

    source: http://www.kcra.com/money/21870175/detail.html#COM

    We are waiting for them to update 500,000 lines of code and they blame the old systems which were probably written correctly until the newbies got a hold of them.

    Anyone who exhausted their benefits already needs to be mailed a check immediately. Do it by hand, it will be faster than waiting for the programming changes done halfway around the world.

  • danielle says:
    December 7, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Thanks Kevin for the info on South Carolina. We are all in this together, and I appreciate you taking the time to look into it. Nothing yet and still the same rigamaro......computer difficulties. They have to say something I suppose. Good luck to everyone. Keep the failth, and hope we all get some luck with a good job.