Regardless, Wentworth suggests that if you qualify, you also put aside any misgivings about collecting unemployment. That's because your former employer had been paying this tax for the day when the company couldn't pay you itself, he says. And you can be eligible even if you have an income-earning spouse or consider yourself a person who wouldn't normally seek out social assistance programs."There's a stigma attached and there shouldn't be," says Wentworth. "It's a safety net intended to help people find their way between jobs."This month, meanwhile, unemployment rates in 18 states and in Washington D.C. fell slightly, but not enough to slide checks out of anyone's hands. Jobless rates rose in 14 states but, for those still under the line, not enough to activate new benefits.When benefits are not available or they end, says Wentworth, many people resort to accepting jobs that are beneath their qualifications or they collect public assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program."There are a lot of sad stories out there," he says.How long will your benefits last?Here's the deal: Since June 2008, Congress has been expanding the number of weeks you can collect unemployment benefits. You start with the first program and travel through until your state's unemployment rate bounces you into the next program.ProgramWeeksTrigger rateStandard benefits26 weeksNoneEmergency unemployment compensation Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 20 weeks 14 weeks 13 weeks 6 weeks None None 6 percent unemployment 8.5 percent unemployment Extended benefits13 weeks 20 weeks6.5 percent unemployment 8.5 percent unemployment Residents that qualify for extended benefitsStates, territories with unemployment high enough for all tiersUnemployment rateAlabama10.2Arizona9.6California12.3Connecticut8.9Delaware8.6Florida11.5Georgia10Illinois10.4Indiana10.1Kentucky10.1Massachusetts9Michigan13.3Mississippi11Missouri9.2Nevada14.2New Jersey9.7North Carolina10.1Ohio10.5Oregon10.5Pennsylvania9.2Rhode Island12.1South Carolina10.9Tennessee10.1Washington9Washington, D.C.10.1West Virginia8.7Puerto Rico16.4 Create a news alert for "smart spending" advertisementRelated Links:Finding money to save 10 dollar-store dudsA cheat sheet on tipping do's and don'tsRelated Articles:Is deflation danger real?Scary jobs report?Reading into GDP growth
Regardless, Wentworth suggests that if you qualify, you also put aside any misgivings about collecting unemployment. That's because your former employer had been paying this tax for the day when the company couldn't pay you itself, he says. And you can be eligible even if you have an income-earning spouse or consider yourself a person who wouldn't normally seek out social assistance programs.
"There's a stigma attached and there shouldn't be," says Wentworth. "It's a safety net intended to help people find their way between jobs."
This month, meanwhile, unemployment rates in 18 states and in Washington D.C. fell slightly, but not enough to slide checks out of anyone's hands. Jobless rates rose in 14 states but, for those still under the line, not enough to activate new benefits.
When benefits are not available or they end, says Wentworth, many people resort to accepting jobs that are beneath their qualifications or they collect public assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
"There are a lot of sad stories out there," he says.
Create a news alert for "smart spending"
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