Massachusetts Extended jobless benefits available

From the Boston Globe  | July 24, 2009

Massachusetts
officials recently enacted a change in state law to ensure that up to
85,000 jobless residents could extend their unemployment benefits. Ed
Malmborg, director of the Division of Unemployment Assistance, and
Gerald McDonough, general counsel for the Executive Office of Labor and
Workforce Development, answered questions from readers during a Boston.com chat this week. Here are highlights:

Q: My
last day of work was July 17, 2009, and I would like to know how many
weeks of unemployment benefits are available to me and are there any
extends I should be aware of.

A: You
are eligible for up to 26 weeks of regular benefits, likely followed by
up to 20 weeks of extended benefits. It is unlikely you are eligible
for Emergency Unemployment Compensation. Once you have exhausted any
level of benefits, you will be notified by the Division of Unemployment
Assistance of any extension for which you are eligible and provided
with instructions to apply. Stay tuned, Congress may pass more
extensions.

Q: I
am now getting the extended benefits due to expire in four more weeks.
Will this be the end of my benefits, or will I continue to get them?

A:
You will receive a notice in the next week from the Division of
Unemployment Assistance informing you of your eligibility for up to
seven additional weeks, as well as instructions as to how to receive
those benefits. You must continue to send your work search log weekly
to DUA at www.mass.gov/DUA/Worksearch.

Q: What is the criteria to be eligible for the additional 20 weeks of unemployment benefits?

A: If
you have exhausted your Emergency Unemployment Compensation, you should
be eligible for up to 20 additional weeks of benefits. The Division of
Unemployment Assistance will notify you of your eligibility.

Q: Is the extension automatic if you qualify, or do you have to apply for it?

A:
You do need to apply for the extension. You will receive notification
after exhausting your Emergency Unemployment Compensation with
instructions.

Q: I
see that I am not the only one who finds the extensions very confusing.
Is there a form that clearly explains eligibility and length of
extensions available?

A: Yes, we understand that this can be confusing for folks. Please check the Division of Unemployment Assistance Website at www.mass.gov/dua in the next 24 hours for additional information on extensions and benefits.

Q: Does this extension mean 79 weeks of unemployment benefits will be available, and what about medical insurance assistance?

A:
Depending on your previous earnings and when you exhaust your regular
or Emergency Unemployment Compensation, you may be eligible for up to
79 weeks in total. As long as you are collecting unemployment, you will
continue to be eligible for the Medical Security Program if you
continue to meet their eligibility standards.

Q: Are
benefits based on a period of time or amount of money? For example, if
I work part time and only collect a portion of the max I can collect,
does that extend my timeline at all, or does it end at 26 weeks even if
there is money left?

A: Your
benefits are based upon your earnings prior to becoming unemployed.
Once you file a claim, a weekly benefit amount will be determined and a
total amount of money payable to you will also be established. If you
are working part time while collecting benefits, it could potentially
extend your benefits past 26 weeks.

Q: I
was laid off in March, and my previous employer (the one that laid me
off) has contacted me asking me if I would be willing to do some
contract work for them. How would that effect my ability to collect?

A: If
you are working for full time, you would not be eligible for
unemployment insurance benefits while you are working. If the
engagement is part time, you may be able to receive a partial benefit
payment.

Q: How much can you earn without jeopardizing your unemployment?

A: You may earn up to a third of your unemployment benefit amount without it affecting your unemployment benefit.

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.