Obama Administration Looking For States To Apply For Unemployment Test Plan

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is looking for states to experiment with unemployment insurance by letting people test a job while receiving unemployment benefits.

It's a key part of the payroll tax cut package that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans in February.

The Labor Department will open the application process Thursday for 10 pilot projects across the country. Any state can apply.

The plan is modeled after a Georgia program called "Georgia Works." Under the plan, workers who have lost jobs can work in other temporary jobs for brief periods to keep their skills or gain new ones while receiving jobless benefits.

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Comments

[dimplesmile7]

03:20 PM on 04/19/2012

As long as they can get unemployment, it fine. Not work for free.

[gaydood]

02:39 PM on 04/19/2012

thats awsummm !!!

OBAMA 2012 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lukylip98]

05:13 PM on 04/19/2012

free health insurance, unlimited unemployment, free housing and food, free education, free transportation, bonus check for doing nothing. This is going to be awsummm!!!

[gaydood]

06:18 PM on 04/19/2012

what counrty are u in?

[wa-st-concerned]

02:39 PM on 04/19/2012

.....another republican gift to employers......who don't need it.......doesn't benefit the unemployed at all.....

The history of the Georgia works program shows that very few employees who "test the job" are retained after the intial test.......it's just a ruse to get money to employers who don't need it and in effect prevents employees from looking for gainful employment (when it does come up).

[VoteThemAllOut]

02:36 PM on 04/19/2012

Please, not another one. Everytime Obama rolls out a new program, the taxpayer gets stuck with the cost and the unemployment numbers continue to be unacceptable.

For once the name of the program is correct, the more programs, the more that are unemployed.

[wa-st-concerned]

02:40 PM on 04/19/2012

AGAIN - this is a REPUBLICAN plan Obama included from the REPUBLICANS.......

[bookreader451]

07:05 AM on 04/27/2012

and when it crashes and burns like every other idea they come up with they blame out POTUS

[lukylip98]

02:26 PM on 04/19/2012

Will these unemployed people count as employed and finally get the unemployment rate under 8%?
It appears that "we the tax payer" will continue paying the unemployment benefits while they receive a check from the employer in addition. Oh brother!

[wa-st-concerned]

02:41 PM on 04/19/2012

This is a REPUBLICAN plan that provides free labor to corporations who don't need the break (and prevents that "test" employee from actually seeking work that will continue in the off chance that break truly materializes....). "Test" employees are rarely retained according to the Georgia Works history. It is nothing more than a continued scam to provide corps with benefits they don't need nor deserve.

[lukylip98]

02:55 PM on 04/19/2012

A republican plan that the president is actively pushing----hmmmm.
Since the president is promoting the plan, I suspect it will lower the unemployed rate below 8% and that will be the headline for the no so informed.
I confess I didn't know such an arrangement existed. I can only assume that the unemployed/employed worker get 2 checks; one from the gov and one from the business.

[Josh Crawford]

02:49 PM on 04/19/2012

"It appears"? In other words, you don't really know, do you? Maybe you should get your facts straight before you comment....Just a thought...

[lukylip98]

02:57 PM on 04/19/2012

I'm asking for some input from all the informed HPuffers---Josh.
Other than Georgia, few are up on this.

[JDLA]

02:19 PM on 04/19/2012

I have an unemployment and welfare plan for you, a jobs program. After the 1st 13 weeks of benefits, (which is how long unemployment insurance ran for originally), if you have not found work, you will report to your local unemployment office and be assigned a public service job. You will be sweeping streets, cleaning our littered highways, maintaining our public buildings and parks system. If not , why not? Are the jobs beneath you? There are people that perform said jobs now. They need assistants because our public assets are looking pretty bad. Why not a little workfare instead of welfare.

[wa-st-concerned]

02:45 PM on 04/19/2012

First, Unemployment Insurance is NOT WELFARE. It is payment from an INSURANCE program you pay into.

Second, yes, public service or a WPA program worked before (actual jobs rather than unemployment), but republicans won't sign on (even to an infrastructure program......) AND psuedo "working" while receiving unemployment kind of prevents you from looking for a "real" job (as if there are any out there at living wages......).

Bombard the republicans to put this in place.........

[JDLA]

02:55 PM on 04/19/2012

When will liberals tire of passing the blame Obama is nearly done with his term and the buck has YET to stop at his desk. It is always someone else to blame.

[badders]

02:47 PM on 04/19/2012

Assistants or assistance? I can't have Assistant Janitor on my resume.

[JDLA]

02:52 PM on 04/19/2012

If titles are important, Vice President to the Chief Director of Make Work.

[Whats Inaname]

01:54 PM on 04/19/2012

I see much criticism on the number of jobs the President has created but I also see much lies and mis/uninformed people who are just repeating "Faux News" talking points.

Let's look at some FACTS:

1. Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 signed – June 07, 2001
10 years, 10 months, 1 week, 5 days – as of 04/19/2012

2. Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 signed – May 28, 2003
8 years, 10 months, 3 weeks, 1 day – as of 04/19/2012

PLEASE LOOK AT THE NAMES. Now they both contain "ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB GROWTH", right?

SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME OR AT LEAST TRY TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE THE JOBS AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE?

Where did the “JOB CREATORS” create jobs? Where are they? The worst economic crisis since the GREAT DEPRESSION! Now, all I hear and read is that under President Obama we have lost more jobs and our economy is the worst it has ever been. Did you all just forget what Bush did or are you choosing to listen to “Faux News” and your Re/TeapubliCANT’s lies? Yes they are lying to you even about the “GAS PRICES”. Does anyone remember what the price of gas was in the summer of 2008? It was over $4.00.

FLASHBACK: Fox News On Gas Prices In 2008

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201203050007

KARMA: "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND."

[wa-st-concerned]

02:53 PM on 04/19/2012

Since Rove's wanderings in the Nixon halls, the republican party has been expert at mislabeling legislation, misrepresenting actions and increasing PR attacks on the truth. He is the "author" of the current party PR machine.

If you take a look - EVERY bill is described in glowing populist terms and titles which are lies and blatently misleading. That is their strategy.......they believe all that the public reads are the titles and summaries.....and unfortunately, for their low information voters, that is true.

[Whats Inaname]

03:10 PM on 04/19/2012

So very true, their low information voters, or as Romney calls them "true believers", believe whatever they are told by "Faux News" and their Re/TeapubliCANT candidate. I refer to them as "cult followers", same as Romney but just more truthful.

Rove, I hope will one day have to answer for his crimes. Look at the Murdoch's. Eventually Karma catches up to you. Don't get me wrong I believe in good Karma too but I have yet to see/hear a Re/TeapubliCANT that would get good Karma. One just has to be patient and watch Jon Stewart so that you don't lose it. Laughter really is the best medicine.

KARMA: "WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND."

[Jawbey]

01:46 PM on 04/19/2012

REPUB/?BAGGERS TO BLOCK in 5--4---3------2------------

[wa-st-concerned]

02:56 PM on 04/19/2012

....they won't......this is a republican bill designed to benefit employers who don't need the free labor paid for by UI.....

History has shown the Georgia Works program retention of those "test" workers to be extremely low. This is nothing more than handing benefits to corps that don't need them at the expense of the unemployment insurance fund.

Plus, it prevents those test employess from actually being out there looking for a job (as if a living wage job is available........)......

[Siftingchaff]

01:27 PM on 04/19/2012

Relatively speaking, the amount of taxpayer money to be spent on this project is not too abhorant, but can the US really afford even more debt now that we've been downgraded again?

First Eagan-Jones and S&P downgraded us from AAA+ to AA+, now we're at AA with a negative outlook.
http://www.fox19.com/story/17546810/reality-check-us-credit-rating-downgraded-a-second-time-in-just-9-months
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/egan-jones-downgrades-us-aa-aa-outlook-negative

[wa-st-concerned]

02:57 PM on 04/19/2012

Unless we reverse this austerity path to the bottom, downgrading won't stop......

Increase revenue, NO MORE CUTS, MORE TRUE JOBS bills and let the tax cuts expire and GET OUT OF THE WARS NOW.

[DevonTexas]

01:27 PM on 04/19/2012

good idea but the GOPpers will take the other side and work against it... because it's Obama's plan and not theirs no matter how much benefit is derived.

[wa-st-concerned]

02:59 PM on 04/19/2012

There is NO benefit derived except for corps getting free labor.....

This is a republican bill based on Georgia Works program - history has shown that these "test" employess are rarely retained and the employer nevers hires additional.

This is another corporate welfare plan at the expense of the unemployment insurance fund this time.......more of "our" money (premiums) being given to corps.

[bigblue22143]

01:26 PM on 04/19/2012

I thought the Georgia plan was that employers hired you with no pay to start, to make sure you were able to do the job and, after training if the employer liked your work then he could offer you the job.

[BoycottFox2]

01:35 PM on 04/19/2012

I wonder if it's the same.

[wa-st-concerned]

03:01 PM on 04/19/2012

Yes,.....however, in GA, those employees are rarely retained historically. ......some miniscule percentage.

It is a corporate welfare program, this time using the UI premium dollars to give free labor to corps who do no permanent hiring.......

[JDLA]

01:24 PM on 04/19/2012

Test out a new job??!! Too bad if the new job is not "your cup of tea". Suck it up and go to work.
What am I missing here? If someone finds a new job, why are we going to continue to pay them unemployment benefits? I mean, other than to keep them voting democrat, what are the reasons?

[efmo]

01:33 PM on 04/19/2012

I think this is more for the benefit of the employer than the potential employee.

[JDLA]

01:40 PM on 04/19/2012

If so, this is another very poorly written article.

[firstwizard]

02:20 PM on 04/19/2012

I think what it all boils down to is that during your "test period" the employer would not pay you as it would be considered a 'training' period. Thus the reason why you would still receive unemployment. The biggest drawback for the employee is that the employer is getting workers for free.

[wa-st-concerned]

03:03 PM on 04/19/2012

.....plus you aren't out there looking for a "real" job (as if living wage jobs are even available.....).

This is nothing more than corporate welfare at the expense of the UI premiums we pay. Historically, GA employers only retain a miniscule percentage of these employees. It's a worthless program by republicans.

[B O Bunionoe]

01:21 PM on 04/19/2012

Another tough week for the president. Not only have unemployment filings been adjusted upwards but he has Barney Frank and Sen. James Webb castigating him for plowing ahead on ObamaCare despite their warnings.

[Josh Crawford]

02:52 PM on 04/19/2012

Every week is a "tough week" for any president. This week was not unusual in that respect...

[Conservative Crusader]

01:11 PM on 04/19/2012

I notice very few if any liberals show up here to defend the dem congress refusing to do what its paid for, – because its indefensible. Amazing how they just ignore the inconvenient truths– like the rule of law and the job we pay congress to do. This is the beginning of a serious breakdown in our government and if it continues there will be no fixing it. These people have no ethics, no concern for the country, its people or its constitution. I remember it being mandatory to pass the constitution test or you could not graduate high school, now its becoming almost meaningless — very very sad. I feel fortunate I got to grow up in a fairly decent America before the governments ethics went down the crapper and congress outsourced its job to the executive branch in fact creating an eventual dictatorship. God help us all if this traitor and his horned minions get re-elected, if this much damage has been done in three years another four will certainly finish it off as a free country. Sadly its been going down hill for decades, the socialists have been hammering away at it since day one almost. I just dont understand the mindset of someone wanting to destroy the greatest free country on earth.

[wa-st-concerned]

03:04 PM on 04/19/2012

Boy have you got it backwards.......

This country was destroyed by republicans and YOU think to denigrate those who wish to restore it?

Go away - you have nothing rational to contribute.

[Micheal Frisbie]

01:09 PM on 04/19/2012

is this like the welfare mom in michigan who hit the lottery and kept on drawing her welfare check... or is it more akin to the term 'double dipping,' .... oh well, whatever it is, i bet it will cost taxpayers more.

[Hooponopono]

01:17 PM on 04/19/2012

No, it's not like her at all.

[BBackSoon]

01:29 PM on 04/19/2012

You are trying to reason with someone that is unreasonable, you know?

[B O Bunionoe]

01:22 PM on 04/19/2012

Or the 100s of government workers collecting a paycheck and government payments.