Oregon: (Ahem!) Don’t Forget That Unemployment Extension

I have had 26 weeks of unemployment only. This is not fair. I have not qualified for any of the extensions and really need one.

Yes, I too have had only 26 weeks after working for 12 years full time with no interruptions. There are no jobs to even apply for! How can they say we've had all of the unemployment we're entitled to? If I had been laid off two weeks earlier I would have qualified for an extension. Basically, they're saying if you became unemployed September 1st 2008 you can still receive benefits up to 99 months but if you were laid off September 1st 2009 your benefits are about to end. How is this fair, even for politicians?

They're halting UI benefits because Wall Street and the big banks are back in business and the wealthiest segment of society can now breathe a sigh of relief and are able to sleep a little better at night. Not to mention that most of the people that work in those high paying jobs and were temporarily unemployed are now back at work and reeling in the bonuses.

I read the other day that the Cobra subsidy that has benefited only the unemployed that were fortunate to have medical insurance provided by their employer amounts to 85% of the total dollars spent by the federal government and figured in as normal UI benefit expense. UI was never set up to pay for medical insurance premiums for the unemployed. As we all know, healthcare coverage is a luxury in this country in this day and age. Who all voted for the COBRA subsidy legislation and did they bother to get a CBO report on how much this was going to add to the already strained UI benefit system. Seems the millions and millions of dollars spent by big Healthcare to lobby Congress this year paid off in more ways than one. “Keep those premium payments rolling in boys if you want that contribution for your re-election campaign.” Something about the whole Cobra subsidy deal smells fishy to me. How did such a large expenditure get morphed into being just a normal part of the UI benefit system. They mention UI benefits and the enormously expensive COBRA subsidy benefit as one in the same as they preceed to inform people who are about to be out on the street that there just isn't enough money left to provide them a safety net. Like I said, something is just not right about that deal and not one Congressman from either side of the aisle has mentioned the enormous burden it has put on the federal governement's ability to provide even the basic needs for all the unemployed.

I to have only received 26 weeks of UI. Mine will run out on the first week in
March. I agree that it is not fair to give some 99 weeks and then tell the rest of us that all we get is 26 weeks. Because some states have a higher % of
unemployment than other states they are elegible for more weeks of UI than other. I don't understand this. I live in Virginia and our UR (unemployment Rate) is only 6.7 %, however we are a small state and we have a lot of military bases. The county I live in has a 9.9 UR. Now because we have so many military personnel it makes it look like we have a lower UR.

Call and email your representatives. They only grease the wheel that squeaks.

what are the phone numbers of the people I should call. I will gladly call. I have NO extensions and this is not fair. How can some people get 99 weeks and others get no extensions. They need to extend the date through March also. Feb 28 will not apply to me

Call and email your representatives. They only grease the wheel that squeaks.

what are the phone numbers of the people I should call. I will gladly call. I have NO extensions and this is not fair. How can some people get 99 weeks and others get no extensions. They need to extend the date through March also. Feb 28 will not apply to me

2662302 beers on the wall. sck was here