Tier 5 unemployment extension 2010 may be on its way- 99ers rejoice. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced S3706, which is a measure that will provide unemployment benefits to each and every 99er who has persisted in this battle for benefits. Of course, the battle continues and could still take a while, as support from the GOP will be hard to win over.

The bill will provide an additional 20 weeks of benefits to states with unemployment rates of 7.5% or more. This brings the total unemployment extensions up to 93 weeks. Added to the traditional 26 weeks of state benefits, and people can rest assured for up to 119 weeks.

The measure would also benefit businesses, by extending credits for employers that hire people who have been out of work for at least 60 days.

Those looking for an extension of COBRA subsidies will have to wait for another bill. The 99ers have already exhausted the 18 months of COBRA eligibility and have to find healthcare elsewhere.

Other politicians supporting the bill include: Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Harry Reid (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

US President Barack Obama signed into law today an extension of the unemployment benefits. Obama issued a statement saying:

“Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times,”

Apparently, the US House of Representatives voted 272 to 152 just to pass the legislation extending the unemployment cover benefits through the end of November.

If we will try to remember, the extending of unemployment benefits was done to run out June 2 after the Congress failed to approve a new extension bill. Because of this, more than 87,000 Michiganders lost their benefits during the month of June and another 85,000 stood to lose them by the end of this month without the action of the Congress.

“They stood not on the side of, but in the way of millions of Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Sander Levin “During those six weeks over 2.5 million unemployed Americans exhausted their benefits and struggled to stay afloat while continuing to look for work in this difficult economy.”

As of the latest reports, the retroactive payments are already in progress for the unemployment benefits due to HR4213. It was noted there that there are currently 5 million unemployed American across the country and an approximately half of these persons were recently cut out benefits when the insurance ran out and no extension bill was even granted.

Some people now, also known as the 99ers awaits for the tier 5 extension of the federal unemployment benefits. With this kind of issues and concerns, the local government now are being pressured of many who wants their reps to add a new category for extended unemployment compensation.

As of this writing, only two senators have expressed their full support for the Tier 5 unemployment extension bill.

Unemployment Extension benefits Tier 5 for 99ers need of the hour. Long at last the unemployment benefits have been approved. But the passage of the bill has been torturous with Republicans trying to block it. For more than six months there was standoff of on the issue between the Democrats and Republicans.

Republicans had wanted more time on it whereas the Democrats were not willing to budge. They were in a rush to get it passed as soon as possible.

They were under intense pressure to act on this important front because they had come to power by making the promise to sort out unemployment. They knew that a delay will only hamper their popularity. That is why the effort to get it passed was being spearheaded by President Barack Obama.

He kept on his work to convince the Senate about the importance of this bill that would help some 2 million workers who had lost job in the last six months following recession. During the voting, two Republicans also sided with the Democrats.

The bill now has been turned into a law and now jobless Americans are eligible for up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits until early June. The time has come for different states to dispatch the money to the needy people. Unemployment extensions were first introduced in 1958 and since then it has been granted six times.

Tier 5 Unemployment Extension Bill Petition Rises: 99ers Want Unemployment Benefits – The clamor for the passage of a Tier 5 Unemployment Extension Bill in the Congress continues. The recent HR 4213 Unemployment Extension Bill does not involve unemployment benefits for those 99ers or those that have received 99 weeks of their unemployment benefits. What will happen to these unemployed individuals now?

Without a Tier 5, these unemployed Americans will have to rely on federal TANF or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program which offers just over $500 each month. However, before you can avail this benefit, you must first prove that you’re capable of paying your rent. Apart from it, the only benefit available to those 99ers are food stamps.

Aside from the usual argument of the Republicans that the costs associated with the passage of a Tier 5 Unemployment Extension Bill will just add to the current huge deficit of the government, it is also being said that it creates a disincentive for a job seeking behavior. That means, if an unemployed individual is expecting to get unemployment benefits, then they will be less likely to get motivated to find a job. While some maybe in this kind of attitude, the majority are actually looking for jobs but there are just no work available in the market. In effect, they are continuously losing their homes, their resources, their food, and their dignity.

Several groups and organizations have set up various petition sites for 99ers. Change.org has this “The 99ers need a Tier 5 added to Unemployment Benefits“; The Petition Site has this “We need a Tier 5 Federal Unemployment Extension“; and Saver 99ers has this “Petittion to Save the 99ers”

Our politicians, especially the Republicans, need not to wait for crime rates to increase before they can address this issue immediately. Participate in any of these petitions for 99ers and let your voices be heard. Keep sending letters, emails, and phone calls to your senators. You can also contact the White House directly here and send your concerns to President Obama. America needs to take care of America.

This morning, the news pertaining to the jobless rate was higher than expected, and this underscored the need for the extended unemployment insurance benefits, which Obama signed later on in the day.

This site has written on this topic before, but we have to continue to do so because of the importance in light of the economic doldrums that we are going through.

For weeks, the Republicans and the Democrats have been fighting about the extension, positing their respective positions. But in the end, the Democrats mustered enough votes to allow the extension.

President Obama, on his part, used his “bully pulpit” to garner the needed support and votes… resulting in his singing of the unemployment extension.

The Washington Post is reporting that the President signed a six month extension, which restored benefits that were cut off since June for some 3 Million folks. These people have been out of work and are depending on these benefits. The extension will cost some $34 billion and the bill passed by a count of 272 to 152. The Republicans wanted the extension, but wanted the cost not to be borne by our treasury – the Democrats basically said not to worry about the deficit because there were people hurting here and now.

The truth is this is a temporary measure and we cannot keep going back to the well before the water is finished. President Obama must find a way to produce jobs – no blaming of President George Bush, even if warranted, will longer suffice. The broken vessel is now yours, Mr. President and you must put the pieces back together.