Unemployment Extension: What A Cutoff Letter Looks Like

Ken Watson of Batavia, Ohio said he learned via email Wednesday that he'd be cut off from his unemployment benefits this weekend.

"I thought I was good into January," Watson told HuffPost. "I was so shocked today."

Watson, 46, is one of 800,000 people facing an abrupt cutoff from the Extended Benefits program in the next week. Congress has failed to reauthorize two programs -- Extended Benefits and Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which together provide up to 73 weeks of benefits on top of the six months handled by states. An additional 1.2 million people will be dropped from EUC by the end of December.

"Because federal funding for this program is ending on Saturday, December 4, 2010, you will not be able to receive these extended benefits for weeks beyond that date," reads the notice Watson said he received from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which appears in full below. "Even if there is a balance showing on your account, these amounts cannot be paid because of the ending of federal funding. If Congress enacts legislation reinstating funding for this program, and that funding is retroactive, you will be notified."

Watson, an information-technology contractor, said he started drawing unemployment benefits early in 2009 after work dried up. "I applied for everything," he said. "I would apply for jobs as a patient orderly. I don't care what I do as long as I get some work."

His wife, he said, has been working part-time. Watson said they have five children. "My two younger kids I really have to worry about because they believe in Santa Claus," he added.

Read Watson's notice:

Dear Claimant:

Our records indicate that you were eligible for state-extended unemployment benefits, also known as "Ohio Extended Benefits" or "Ohio EB". These benefits were made available by the 100 percent federal funding of state-extended benefits established under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Because federal funding for this program is ending on Saturday, December 4, 2010, you will not be able to receive these extended benefits for weeks beyond that date. Even if there is a balance showing on your account, these amounts cannot be paid because of the ending of federal funding. If Congress enacts legislation reinstating funding for this program, and that funding is retroactive, you will be notified.

In the meantime, if you have not yet been able to find employment, please know that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services remains committed to assisting you during your time of need. Remember that you can access thousands of job opportunities at. If you have not already done so, please visit your local One Stop Center for help with such things as resume development, career planning and your job search effort. To find the One Stop nearest you, please call 1-877-US2JOBS or visit

Comments

[scrzbill]

03:01 PM on 12/07/2010

If corporations aRe sitting on massive reserves, what is stopping them from hiring? Wages? Is this a co ordinated effort by the National Chamber of Commerce to reduce wages through long term unemployment? This whole deal stinks. Teabaggers working against America to defeat Obama. What is more under handed than that policy. Never in history has one party set out their goal for America to defeat a sitting president by complete obstruction. Thanks teabaggers. Party and religion first. Guns, bible, then the country.

[che720k]

03:40 PM on 12/09/2010

scrzbill, I totally agree with you. I think the President has so many people working against him, in an out of congress working to take him down that no matter what he does it will always be turned into a negitive. I just hope Americans wake up, wipe their eyes, and see whats really happening to us!

[dbishop76]

11:27 AM on 12/06/2010

"My two younger kids I really have to worry about because they believe in Santa Claus," he added.

THIS right here is the reason I told my kids Santa wasn't real. I remember very well the day my son (4 at the time) was shocked when I told him that some kids did not get gifts on Christmas and he said, "Oh, they must have been REALLY bad." I replied, "No, sometimes their parents can't afford it." "But that's what Santa does!" he declared.

That was the day I ended the fantasy.

[sunny4]

08:35 AM on 12/06/2010

But understand folks, isn't this what the American people voted for? This is what the Reps say everday on the msm. I don't know have answers, but these good folks did not really understand what or who they were voting for.

[dbishop76]

11:31 AM on 12/06/2010

I'm not sure how they could not have understood that. I mean, their campaign slogans may as well have been, "Unemployed? To bad! Get off your lazy duff and work!"

[Amanda Dukinfield]

04:45 PM on 12/06/2010

WE ARE ALREADY OFF OUR DUFFS LOOKIN FOR JOBS.. THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE OR THEY DONT HIRE US BECAUSE WE ARE TO QUALIFIED!!! IF I COULD FIND A JOB SHOOT EVEN AT TACO BELL OR MCDONALDS I SO WOULD TAKE IT.. ITS BETTER THEN NOTHING!!!

[che720k]

08:30 AM on 12/10/2010

I hope you or your spouse don't ever loose your job! Then you will see how hard it really is. Even McDonald's wouldn't pay you enough to pay your mortgage and other bills. You would need UNEMPLOYMENT to help.

[colomom]

05:58 PM on 12/04/2010

More than 800,000 of America's unemployed job seekers have been cut off from federal jobless benefits. The total's expected to rise to 2 MILLION by the end of the year, unless Congress takes urgent action to renew and maintain those benefits.

With five job hunters for every one opening, we need jobs now. While jobs aren't there, job seekers need a lifeline. I just signed an emergency petition urging my senators to act. Can you add your name, too? Just click here:

http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=931

Once you've signed the petition, check out the AFL-CIO's unemployment counter. It gives a real-time estimate of the number of people who have lost emergency unemployment benefits. You can see the counter here:

http://www.aflcio.org/countdown_uiexpire.cfm

[andiannj]

11:47 PM on 12/04/2010

F&F! Signed and thanks for the link!

[Amanda Dukinfield]

04:37 PM on 12/06/2010

I signed as well!!!!

[demilieu]

04:13 PM on 12/04/2010

The way our elected elite in Washington are using UI extensions as a political football is shameful. People often can't determine exactly if and when their payments will run out. It's stressful enough in this economy, being out of work and looking for work. And then you add this in. They really need to start acting in a decent way and do the right thing.

[YolandaJ]

04:37 PM on 12/03/2010

Time to start fighting fire with fire...What is a rich mans worst nightmare?...your right, waking up broke!... it is time to start boycotting those businesses that support this 'wealthy' tax cut that is causing all this...they are cowards...they don't want us consumers to know who they are ...because they're cowards...once they are called out they will point the finger at someone else (Republicans)...as do all cowards...

[ocean123]

11:24 AM on 12/03/2010

Time to clean house. Remove Republicans from office. Our next election will clean the house of all big corporate crooks. Enough is enough.

[YolandaJ]

04:03 PM on 12/03/2010

They say "WE THE PEOPLE" will FORGET by 2012...Maybe they're right, they always seem to do a very good job poisoning ppl minds with hatred, racism, and fear...I'm looking forward to one of these three to play a huge part in the election, as did for the November elections... why stop something that's been working perfectly fine for many years?...

[Debbie Rosner]

11:00 AM on 12/06/2010

I agree. I would also like to know how they could do this to the thousands of unemployed familys that are trying to keep their heads above water and feed their children as well. My husband has been layoff for a year now and we are both diabetics as well, and we now have to pay out of our pocket $687.00 a month just for medical insurance, he has even gone down to GA to see if he can find work there, since nothing is breaking in Pa other then the Rich are getting Richer. I am sure our goverment and the Presdent and their families are going to have a very festive holiday. I would really like to know how you sleep at night knowing what you are doing to people who would rather be out working supporting their families instead of collecting unemployment. We can not even take care of our homeless and elderly, but hey you have a great paycheck coming to you for doing nothing!!!!! I am very diappointed in our goverment, but I am sure you could careless just as long as you have your paycheck.

[mad fred]

06:51 PM on 12/02/2010

The wool is being pulled over everyone's eyes.
They want us to think we have a choice.
But whether you are liberal or conservative- the Corporations are running the show now.
Everything else is just smoke and mirrors.
Now that Corporations are hiring foreigners they no longer care about us silly American workers who ask for too much.

[Viper1st]

06:08 AM on 12/03/2010

"hiring foreigners" is a new spin to it

Facts ~

11 million illegal scabs are working illegally in the U.S. taking Americans' jobs for half-price wages

16 million Americans out of work facing 6 million home foreclosures

[dbishop76]

11:33 AM on 12/06/2010

Didn't see one person complaining about who was mowing their grass before it effected them....

[andiannj]

12:41 AM on 12/05/2010

The very people who generated the wealth for the corporations are now being discarded or used as pawns to get tax cuts for the wealthy. It's disgusting!

[Nancy Lynne Kriescher]

04:45 PM on 12/02/2010

well, if this is not the top story tonight, on ALL news programs.. then I say to anyone watching Fox News, if they don't lead off this story.. Why? it just shows the Bias"" for Repubs., who won't get this done w/ the Dems. even now.. these people probably have little food, let alone hope, for the day to day.. let alone Holiday Season.. many will not ask for help.. I say, every Congressman/woman, take a chunk of your 200.000.00 plus pay checks, get a name for every person who has been cut off, and supply them with funds for food, rent, gas, gifts, mortgage payments, car payments.. this is unforegivable..

[Amanda Dukinfield]

04:49 PM on 12/06/2010

I AGREE :D

[che720k]

08:54 AM on 12/10/2010

Mrs. Nancy, Your right the top of the news has been this very subject. I personally think its unfair that the Reps are acting like little babies by not even wanting to continue on with any issues unless they get what they want! Some people might say" Its only for 2 years" but for alot of people 2 years is too long. I understand the Presidents position, by at least trying to get something done when you know that the Reps are stone walling you but America lets pull together and try to make a difference!

[Novelist56]

02:06 PM on 12/02/2010

If you voted Republican. This is what you voted for. I've been a 99ers since April, come join the cat and dog food line.

[Paulette carty]

02:00 PM on 12/02/2010

To the unemployed Republicans, what's your take on this?

[montecarloss502]

02:58 PM on 12/02/2010

well it needed to end i've been on it since oct 09 waiting for the school funding too come and here i am no job no school . my school was for a class A truck driving training that i got pre-aproved for back in april 10 was told school was starting in july then oct then well we have no funding ms.obama hope that trip to spain was nice

[Beatriz Sanchez]

11:42 AM on 12/02/2010

GOP "America has spoken loud and clear"....Nothing gets done until they extend the Bush Tax Cuts indefinitely. This is what you all voted for and are now crying about? You didn't give Dems a chance...you gave Bush 8 years and gave Obama 2?!!! What did you expect? I hope Obama calls their bluff...I hope they pass everything they want in the lame duck session....DAMN GOPs. Do certain people really think that we the unemployed enjoy being limited to just paying our bills (some bills that is) with the measly UI check we get? There are jobs out there...employers now just have the pick of the litter for less money and more work...which I wouldn't mind doing...just call me for the damn interview!

[Don Greider]

02:53 PM on 12/02/2010

excellent! sentiments exactly!

[Nancy Lynne Kriescher]

04:49 PM on 12/02/2010

read yours, honey, read mine, i am new, nancy, good [post:

[jkkFL]

10:51 PM on 12/02/2010

Remember when you get slimed- return the favor!
You'll find support here-(plus a few rotton tomatoes :)
Welcome!

[needajob24]

11:09 AM on 12/02/2010

I am a conservative independent who is unemployed and at the end of this week I will no longer recieve any unemployment. I am I quess what you would call a 26er? I lost my job this year and due to the ignorant folks in washington I will not even get the chance to recieve any extended benefits, so I get to continue looking for for work without any help. I need my benefits to help my buy ink for my printer, to print applications, internet to look for jobs, and heat so I will not get too sick to work! I am 50yrs old, have worked for the last 32yrs and PAID into the system, I am so tired of reading the negative comments about how ucb is welfare? No it is not. I am entitled to my benefits, but the cronies up there think that we are all lazy, fat, good for nothing folks. It broke my heart yesterday to read all the negative stuff put out about us! The polls this time that I have read all state folks want us cut off. Do they know that includes folks like me who never got the extensions? I live in a red state, voted for only who I thought would do a good job in my state and left the others blank. I am mad at both parties, tired of being their pawns in their chess game.

[Marie Gage]

11:58 AM on 12/02/2010

america seems to have no use for those of us that are 50 and unemployed - you are not alone! - and the name calling, etc. is not helping - i too have worked for 30 years - NEVER ever been without a job - now i am some kinda social pariah - and it's not getting better - no one wants to hire us even for a wal mart job cuz we're "overqualified" - we "wouldn't be happy" - SOME money is better than NO money! - we don't want a handout - we want to WORK - i am going nuts being home all day -

[JacksonD]

03:21 PM on 12/02/2010

I really feel for you both.  It seems that employers think you are too old to hire (probably has a lot to do with health insurance) but you are too young to retire.  What are people supposed to do for the 10 or 15 years that they have to wait for SS?  So sorry - I sincerely hope that things improve for you.

[sunny4]

08:42 AM on 12/06/2010

No, it was not the folks in Washington, it was the American people who watch Fox news and believe everything they say. The very people who supports fox and the teabaggers should be marching in the streets to get these folks off the air and out of office.

[Michael S Robinson]

10:49 AM on 12/02/2010

An important task while unemployed is to keep your skill set energized and get yourself out there and pick up as much experience as possible, be it volunteer work or even consulting jobs, no matter how short the assignment may be. As a CEO of a staffing firm, I try to counsel those who are now unemployed and looking for work to keep themselves relevant and prioritize their job search. I have devoted my website to blogs and videos pertaining to the job market, interview pointers and techniques, and self- esteem building articles to assist you in any interview you may go on. I invite you to read and comment on my articles, and I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts and opinions. I invite those employed and unemployed to join in, so together we can help those who are searching find jobs and get our economy back on track. MR

www.mikesrobinson.com

[Courtney Sconiers]

10:25 AM on 12/02/2010

Real funny! Thanks for stealing Christmas from my family!!