Unemployment Extensions

Technically and legally, yes, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

While the Social Security Administration doesn't prohibit people on (SSDI) disability from receiving unemployment checks, state unemployment regulations usually require all unemployment recipients to be willing and able to accept full-time work.This creates a conflict, because you're generally not eligible for Social Security disability benefits if you're capable of full-time work.

When you file for unemployment compensation, all states require you to provide your Social Security number (authorized under Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 26 U.S.C. 85, Sections 6011(a), 6050(b), 6109(a), P.L. 98-369, Section 1137(a)(1)). They will share information about your claim with other government agencies to determine how unemployment affects other benefits you may receive, such as Medicaid and food stamps.

If you are already receiving Social Security Disability(SSDI), and you are filing an unemployment claim that shows you earned more than an average of $1,000 per month, the Social Security Administration will consider you to have engaged in Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which will cause problems.

The SSA allows people on disability to attempt to reenter the workforce without penalty by providing nine non-consecutive trial work months during which you can earn in excess of $1,000 per month without jeopardizing your benefits. However, any month that you earn more than $720 is counted toward your trial work period (TWP), so if you have already used up your nine-month allotment andyou continued to earn in excess of $1,000 per month, the Social Security Administration may terminate your disability status or may initiate a Continuing Disability Review (CDR) to determine if your disability status should beterminated.

If you earned more than $1,000 per month for more than nine months, you may be required to repay the Social Security Administration for overpaid benefits and you may also be terminated from disability.

On the other hand, if you file for unemployment compensation based on earnings averaging $1,000 per month or less (below SGA), the unemployment claim is legitimate and shouldn't raise any red flags.

If you are in the process of filing for Social Security disability, the conflict between simultaneously claiming to be incapable of "Substantial Gainful Activity" (SGA), which generally translates to full-time work, and contractually agreeing that you're willing to accept full-time work (under state unemployment regulations) in exchange for unemployment compensation, mayresult in being denied disability status (most initial claims and first appeals are denied, anyway).

If you persist with the disability claim and proceed to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), it will take approximately 18 months to two years from the date you originally filed the claim until your hearing date.

By then, your unemployment compensation will (probably) have been exhausted and you will either have been forced to accept employment (thus ending your disability claim for all practical purposes) or will continue to be unemployed or be under-employed. This may be a factor in the judge's decision to award or deny disability, but it will not necessarily prevent you from receiving disability benefits. The disability determination process is usually long, and should not be viewed as a way of generating quick cash.

For information regarding your specific circumstances, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or seek consultation with a disability attorney.

As of right now, no there is not. Some states with exceptionally high unemployment rates have triggered EB(Extended benefits) for up to 20 weeks - this might be considered a Tier III extension. Most people that are on this will expire before the end of summer. The people that have been unemployed since early 2008 are in the worst position - no jobs and extensions to run out!

Congress should pass another legislation for a Tier VI extension before they go on vacation this August 2009. It is desperately needed as unemployment continues to rise. Where are the jobs??

The tally is in. H.R. 3548 passes by a 98-0 margin. It now will move back to the House, which is expected to take up the bill quickly.

The average length of unemployment in 2005, according to Employment and Earnings, was 18.4 weeks, down from 19.6 weeks in 2004, but up from 13.2 weeks in 2001.

Read more: Unemployment - How Long Does Unemployment Last? - Weeks, Unemployed, Married, Workers, Average, and Divorced In the Related Link below.

this is just general statistics, though, but it should help to estimate it.

Apparently the republican-controlled house in Tennessee continues to choose to be out of touch with the reality of the hard times in the state. They are arguing over the need to increase the tax to business' to maintain the funding. You need to contact your local Tennessee representative and let them know the urgency of the situation. They are passing the dumbest laws and making that a priority over the Tennessee worker who has became unemployed through no fault of their own, and cannot find work! One republican has even said he wants to wait around and see what other states do. It's very discerning to know most Tennessee officials want to model themselves after how another state would act with this disaster. Espcecially when the democrats have made compromises and proposed a plan already passed in the Tennesse senate. Gov. Bredesen has commented that the cost of approving this plan is far less then allowing them to do nothing and the Feds step in. You can read more about this at thetennesean.com or by just doing a search with Tennessee Unemployment Benefits Extension. After you sort through their easy passage of the previous extension (the 2nd) provided under President Bush you can see how they are playing politics when thousands of Tennesseans are hurting.

TAKE ACTION NOW. The information below applies to whatever state you may reside which is not taking action.

I have found this site which will help a person locate their state representative and send a message urging them to pass legislation for the EB. Go to www.unemployedworkers.org and select "Act Now for Unemployment Benefits in your State" and you will be taken to an easy-to-use message to send to your congressmen. Make it as personal as you can so they know it's not a computer drone sending a message. Also, any ideas on how we get this link above to more jobless Tennesseans? I imagine there are a percentage who cannot even afford computers or navigate email. The link above is very easy-to-use and automated.Please pass this along to as many Tennesseans or persons in other states affected you know who want to ask their congressmen/women to help. Communication is our only hope. They need to appreciate the need to make this a top priority. I do not represent unemployedworkers.org but I believe this is a good cause with unemployment at the staggering level that it is.

Visit http://www.10millionpeople.com to find information about your state's unemployment insurance extensions.