< Back to Current Version

Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws

Changes from October 30, 2013 to August 19, 2014

This page shows textual changes in the document between the two versions indicated in the dates above. Textual matter removed in the later version is indicated with red strikethrough and textual matter added in the later version is indicated with blue.


Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Katelin P. Isaacs Analyst in Income Security October 30, 2013 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R41859 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Summary This report analyzes several types of recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Three categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits; (2) changes in the UC weekly benefit amount; and (3) the enactment into state law of two trigger options for the Extended Benefit (EB) program. Over the last several years, some states have enacted legislation to decrease the maximum number of weeks of regular state UC benefits. Until recently, all states paid at least up to 26 weeks of UC benefits to eligible, unemployed individuals. In 2011, however, six states passed legislation to decrease their maximum UC benefit durations: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois (only if certain program criteria are met across different calendar years), Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina. In 2012, Georgia also passed legislation to decrease the maximum UC benefit duration. In 2013, North Carolina enacted similar legislation. Changes in UC benefit duration have consequences for the duration of federal unemployment benefits that may be available to unemployed workers. Since state UC benefit duration is an underlying factor in the calculation of duration for additional federal unemployment benefits, reducing UC maximum duration also reduces the number of weeks available to unemployed workers in the federal extended unemployment programs (including the Emergency Unemployment Compensation [EUC08] and EB). States are temporarily subject to a “nonreduction” rule (under P.L. 111-205, as amended), which makes the availability of federally financed EUC08 benefits contingent on not actively changing the state’s method of calculation for UC benefits, if it would decrease weekly benefit amounts. Some states, however, make automatic adjustments to weekly benefit amounts under existing state law. Consequently, when these states experience certain conditions, such as a decrease in the average weekly wage used in the automatic adjustment calculation, their maximum weekly UC benefit amount may be decreased without violating the “nonreduction” rule. Any reduction to the UC weekly benefit amount also translates into reduced EUC08 and EB weekly benefit amounts. P.L. 112-96 provided a specific exception to the “nonreduction” rule in the case of state legislation enacted before March 1, 2012. In February 2013, North Carolina enacted legislation that actively reduces UC weekly benefit amount calculations beginning in July 2013. Due to this violation of the “nonreduction” rule, EUC08 benefits are no longer available in North Carolina, effective June 29, 2013. Finally, there are various optional EB trigger components—authorized under permanent federal law (P.L. 91-373, as amended) and temporary federal law (P.L. 111-312, as amended, and P.L. 111-5, as amended)—that states may opt to enact under their state UC laws. Currently, 11 states have adopted an optional trigger for the EB program, based on a state’s total unemployment rate (TUR), into permanent state law. An additional 28 states have enacted this EB TUR trigger temporarily, linking its expiration to the expiration of the temporary 100% federal financing of the EB program under federal law (P.L. 111-5, as amended). Thirty-one states have adopted a three-year lookback for this optional TUR trigger under current state law (temporarily authorized under P.L. 111-312, as amended) to continue to meet the trigger criteria and continue to pay EB benefits. In general, only states that have enacted at least one of these EB trigger options (i.e., the TUR trigger or the three-year lookback) had been able to pay EB benefits in 2011 and 2012. As of the week of October 27, 2013, no state meets the requirements to trigger onto EB. Congressional Research Service UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Overall, these three types of changes to state UC laws and programs have consequences for the availability, duration, and amount of unemployment benefits. This report describes these changes and analyzes their consequences for UC, EUC08, and EB benefits. It will be updated, as needed, to reflect any additional state UC changes. Congressional Research Service UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview of Current Unemployment Benefits ................................................................................ 1 Unemployment Compensation Program ................................................................................... 2 Maximum UC Benefit Duration .......................................................................................... 2 Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program ................................................................ 2 Extended Benefit Program ........................................................................................................ 3 State Law Changes to UC Benefit Duration .................................................................................... 4 Consequences of Reduced UC Benefit Duration for Federal Unemployment Programs .......... 7 Calculation of Benefit Duration for EUC08 Tiers............................................................... 7 Calculation of Benefit Duration for EB Payable Periods .................................................... 9 States with Reduced Weekly Benefit Amounts .............................................................................. 14 State Law Enactment of EB Trigger Options ................................................................................ 15 Tables Table 1. States with Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law Changes That Decrease Benefit Duration ........................................................................................................................... 6 Table 2. Adjusted Maximum EUC08 and EB Benefit Duration Resulting from Changes to State Maximum UC Benefit Duration ........................................................................................ 10 Table 3. Extended Benefit (EB) Trigger Components Enacted by States ...................................... 17 Contacts Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 18 Congressional Research Service UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Introduction As a result of continued, high unemployment in the aftermath of the recent recession (December 2007-June 2009), many states have enacted changes to their Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. These state UC changes seek to accomplish two goals. First, several states are attempting to reduce the state costs of UC benefits, which are financed through state taxes on employers. This reduction in state UC benefit spending may be achieved through two types of state UC changes: (1) a reduction in the duration of state UC employment benefits and (2) a reduction in the state UC weekly benefit amount. Second, across several states, another major goal is to take advantage of additional, federal unemployment benefits available through the permanent-law Extended Benefit (EB) program because these benefits are temporarily 100% federally financed (through December 31, 2013, under current law). In support of this second major goal, many states have enacted permanent or temporary state laws to ensure that EB benefits are payable to eligible individuals. This report first provides a brief overview of the unemployment compensation programs and benefits that may currently be available to eligible, unemployed individuals. Next, the three categories of UC state law issues are analyzed: 1. changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits; 2. changes in the maximum UC weekly benefit amount; and 3. the enactment into state law of two trigger options for the EB program. Overview of Current Unemployment Benefits Several unemployment insurance (UI) programs may currently provide benefits to unemployed workers. When eligible workers lose their jobs, the UC program may provide up to 26 weeks of income support through the payment of regular state UC benefits.1 These UC benefits may be extended in two ways: (1) the temporarily authorized Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program provides up to four tiers of additional weeks of unemployment benefits to certain workers who have exhausted their rights to UC benefits in states with high unemployment; 2 and (2) the EB program provides up to 13 or 20 weeks of additional unemployment benefits if certain economic situations exist within the state.3 Provided below is a brief description of the benefits available through these three UI programs: UC, EUC08, and EB. For detailed information on each of these programs, including more details 1 Or, in the case of the states described in the report section on “State Law Changes to UC Benefit Duration,” UC currently pays fewer than up to 26 weeks. 2 See report section on “Calculation of Benefit Duration for EUC08 Tiers” for the calculation of EUC08 benefit durations in states that have reduced regular UC benefit duration. Currently, in states without UC duration reductions up to 47 weeks of total EUC08 benefits may be available in certain states with high unemployment. For more details on the structure and availability of EUC08 benefits, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. 3 See report section on “Calculation of Benefit Duration for EB Payable Periods” for the calculation of EB benefit durations in states that have reduced regular UC benefit duration. Congressional Research Service 1 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws on the financing of each type of unemployment benefit, see CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. Unemployment Compensation Program Authorized by the Social Security Act of 1935 (SSA; P.L. 74-271), UC is a joint federal-state program that provides unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. Although federal laws and regulations provide broad guidelines on UC benefit coverage, eligibility, and benefit determination, the specifics regarding UC benefits are determined by each state. This results in essentially 53 different programs.4 Generally, UC eligibility is based on attaining qualified wages and employment in covered work over a 12-month period (called a base period) prior to unemployment. All states require a worker to have earned a certain amount of wages or to have worked for a certain period of time (or both) within the base period to be monetarily eligible to receive any UC benefits. The methods states use to determine monetary eligibility vary greatly. Most state benefit formulas replace approximately half of a claimant’s average weekly wage up to a weekly maximum. State taxes paid by employers on UC-covered wages finance UC benefits. Maximum UC Benefit Duration Until the recent state law changes described in this report, UC programs had been paying unemployment benefits for a maximum duration of 26 weeks. The only exceptions to the 26 week UC benefit maximum prior to these recent state law changes were states that provided more than 26 weeks of UC benefits (Montana: up to 28 weeks; Massachusetts: up to 30 weeks). There is nothing in federal law, however, that requires states to set their UC benefit duration maximum at 26 weeks. States have the discretion to set their own UC benefit durations via their state UC laws. In the early decades of the UC program, there was more variation in the maximum duration of UC benefits across states, which also tended to be lower than 26 weeks. Yet since the 1960s—and until the 2011 state law changes—states have chosen to provide up to at least 26 weeks of UC benefits to eligible individuals.5 Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program Unemployment Compensation Laws
August 19, 2014 (R41859)

Summary

This report analyzes recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Two categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits, and (2) changes in the UC weekly benefit amount.

Over the past several years, some states have enacted legislation to decrease the maximum number of weeks of regular state UC benefits. Until recently, all states paid at least up to 26 weeks of UC benefits to eligible, unemployed individuals. In 2011, however, six states passed legislation to decrease their maximum UC benefit durations: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois (only if certain program criteria are met across different calendar years), Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina. In 2012, Georgia also passed legislation to decrease the maximum UC benefit duration. In 2013, Kansas and North Carolina enacted similar legislation.

Changes in UC benefit duration have consequences for the duration of federal unemployment benefits that may be available to unemployed workers, including Extended Benefits (EB) and benefits from the now-expired Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program. Because state UC benefit duration is an underlying factor in the calculation of duration for additional federal unemployment benefits, reducing UC maximum duration also reduces the number of weeks available to unemployed workers in the federal extended unemployment programs (including EUC08, which is now expired, and EB).

Prior to the expiration of the EUC08 program on December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, in New York), states were temporarily subject to a "nonreduction" rule (under P.L. 111-205, as amended), which made the availability of federally financed EUC08 benefits contingent on not actively changing the state's method of calculation for UC benefits, if it would have decreased weekly benefit amounts. Some states, however, make automatic adjustments to weekly benefit amounts under existing state law. Consequently, when these states experience certain conditions, such as a decrease in the average weekly wage used in the automatic adjustment calculation, their maximum weekly UC benefit amount may have been decreased without having violated the now-expired "nonreduction" rule. P.L. 112-96 provided a specific exception to the "nonreduction" rule in the case of state legislation enacted before March 1, 2012. In February 2013, North Carolina enacted legislation that actively reduces UC weekly benefit amount calculations beginning in July 2013. Due to this violation of the "nonreduction" rule, EUC08 benefits were no longer available in North Carolina, effective June 29, 2013. All EUC08 benefits expired as of the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State). Any reduction to the UC weekly benefit amount also translates into reduced EB weekly benefit amounts (and EUC08 benefit amounts when the program was authorized).

Overall, the two types of changes to state UC laws and programs have consequences for the duration and amount of unemployment benefits. This report describes these changes and analyzes their consequences for UC, EUC08 (when it was authorized), and EB benefits. It will be updated, as needed, to reflect additional state UC changes.

Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws

Introduction

As a result of continued, high unemployment in the aftermath of the most recent recession (December 2007-June 2009), many states have enacted changes to their Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. In general, several states are attempting to reduce the state costs of UC benefits, which are financed through state taxes on employers. This reduction in state UC benefit spending may be achieved through two types of state UC changes: (1) a reduction in the duration of state UC employment benefits and (2) a reduction in the state UC weekly benefit amount.

This report first provides a brief overview of the unemployment compensation programs and benefits that may currently be available to eligible, unemployed individuals. Next, the two categories of UC state law issues are analyzed:

  • 1. changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits, and
  • 2. changes in the maximum UC weekly benefit amount.
Overview of Unemployment Benefits

Several unemployment insurance (UI) programs may provide benefits to unemployed workers. When eligible workers lose their jobs, the UC program may provide up to 26 weeks of income support through the payment of regular state UC benefits.1 These UC benefits may be extended in two ways. First, the permanent-law EB program may provide up to 13 or 20 weeks of additional unemployment benefits if certain economic situations exist within the state.2 Second, until its expiration the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State), the temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program provided up to four tiers of additional weeks of unemployment benefits to certain workers who have exhausted their rights to UC benefits in states with high unemployment.3

Provided below is a brief description of the benefits available through these three UI programs: UC, EUC08 (when it was authorized), and EB. For detailed information on each of these programs, including more details on the financing of each type of unemployment benefit, see CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. For information on legislative proposals to reauthorize the expired UI provisions, including authorization for the EUC08 program, see CRS Report R42936, Unemployment Insurance: Legislative Issues in the 113th Congress, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

Unemployment Compensation Program

Authorized by the Social Security Act of 1935 (SSA; P.L. 74-271), UC is a joint federal-state program that provides unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. Although federal laws and regulations provide broad guidelines on UC benefit coverage, eligibility, and benefit determination, the specifics regarding UC benefits are determined by each state. This results in essentially 53 different programs.4 Generally, UC eligibility is based on attaining qualified wages and employment in covered work over a 12-month period (called a base period) prior to unemployment. All states require a worker to have earned a certain amount of wages or to have worked for a certain period of time (or both) within the base period to be monetarily eligible to receive any UC benefits. The methods states use to determine monetary eligibility vary greatly. Most state benefit formulas replace approximately half of a claimant's average weekly wage up to a weekly maximum. State taxes paid by employers on UC-covered wages finance UC benefits.

Maximum UC Benefit Duration

Until the recent state law changes described in this report, UC programs had been paying unemployment benefits for a maximum duration of 26 weeks. The only exceptions to the 26 week UC benefit maximum prior to these recent state law changes had been two states that provided more than 26 weeks of UC benefits (Montana: up to 28 weeks; Massachusetts: up to 30 weeks). There is nothing in federal law, however, that requires states to set their UC benefit duration maximum at 26 weeks. Thus, states have the discretion to offer fewer than 26 weeks as the maximum as well as to set their own UC benefit durations via their state UC laws. In the early decades of the UC program, there was more variation in the maximum duration of UC benefits across states, which also tended to be lower than 26 weeks. Yet since the 1960s—and until the 2011 state law changes—all states had chosen to provide up to at least 26 weeks of UC benefits to eligible individuals.5

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program (now expired)
On June 30, 2008, the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-252) created a new temporary, federally financed unemployment insurance program, the EUC08 program. EUC08 is was the eighth, federal temporary program that Congress has created to extend the number of potential weeks of UC available to eligible, unemployed individuals during an economic slowdown.6 State UC agencies administer6 While it was authorized, state UC agencies administered the EUC08 benefit along with regular UC benefits. Prior to expiration, EUC08 benefits are currentlywere financed with general revenue from the U.S. Treasury.

The authorization for this program expired the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (December 28, 2013; December 29, 2013, for New York).7 There was no grandfathering of any EUC08 benefit after that date. Therefore, no EUC08 benefits are currently available.8

Prior to program expiration, the EUC08 benefit amount was equal to the eligible individual's weekly regular UC benefits; the following four tiers of EUC08 benefits were available:

  • Tier I was available in all states (except North Carolina),9 up to 14 weeks.
  • Tier II was available in states with a TUR of at least 6% (not available in North Carolina), up to 14 weeks.10
  • Tier III was available in states with a TUR of at least 7% (or an insured unemployment rate [IUR]11 of at least 4%; not available in North Carolina), up to 9 weeks.
  • Tier IV was available in states with a TUR of at least 9% (or an IUR of at least 5%; not available in North Carolina), up to 10 weeks.Extended Benefit Program The Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, P.L. 91-373, established the EB program. The EB program provides extended unemployment benefits in states that meet certain economic criteria. In all states, EB is available when a state's IUR or TUR reaches certain levels.12 For additional details on state triggers for the EB program, see CRS Report RL33362,
    The authorization for this 4 The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are considered to be states in UC law. Puerto Rico is an exception to this pattern of state convergence on 26 weeks as the maximum UC benefit duration in the 1960s. When it originally entered the federal-state UC system in 1961, Puerto Rico provided a lower maximum UC benefit duration (i.e., up to 16 weeks in 1961 and then up to 20 weeks for most of the 1970-1990 period). Puerto Rico did not provide up to 26 weeks of UC benefits until 1991. For more information on state UC benefit duration, including changes over time, see DOL’s “Significant Provisions of State UI Laws,” available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/statelaws.asp#sigprouilaws. 6 The other programs became effective in 1958, 1961, 1972, 1975, 1982, 1991, and 2002. See CRS Report RL34340, Extending Unemployment Compensation Benefits During Recessions, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. 5 Congressional Research Service 2 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws program continues until the week ending on or before January 1, 2014.7 There is no grandfathering of any EUC08 benefit after that date. Therefore, EUC08 benefits are currently available through December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, for New York). The EUC08 benefit amount is equal to the eligible individual’s weekly regular UC benefits. There are currently four tiers of EUC08 benefits: • Tier I is available in all states, up to 14 weeks. • Tier II is available in states with a TUR of at least 6%, up to 14 weeks.8 • Tier III is available in states with a TUR of at least 7% (or an insured unemployment rate [IUR]9 of at least 4%), up to 9 weeks. • Tier IV is available in states with a TUR of at least 9% (or an IUR of at least 5%), up to 10 weeks. Extended Benefit Program The Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, P.L. 91-373, established the EB program. The EB program provides extended unemployment benefits in states that meet certain economic criteria. In all states, EB is available when a state’s IUR or TUR reaches certain levels.10 For additional details on state triggers for the EB program, see CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. , by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. The EB program imposes additional federal restrictions on individual eligibility for benefits beyond the state requirements for regular UC. In addition to all state requirements for regular UC eligibility, the EB program requires claimants to have at least 20 weeks of full-time insured employment or the equivalent in their base period and to conduct a systematic and sustained work search. Prior to the enactment of P.L. 112-96, states were permitted to determine which benefit, EB or EUC08, was paid first.11 P.L. 112-96 now requires that states, when EUC08 was authorized.13 Effective with P.L. 112-96, states were required to pay EUC08 benefits before EB benefits. until the EUC08 program expired December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, in New York State). Under permanent law, EB benefits are funded half (50%) by the federal government and half (50%) by states. The 2009 stimulus package (P.L. 111-5), as amended, temporarily changes the financing of EB benefits to be 100% federal funding through December 31, 2013.12 The EB benefit amount is equal to the eligible individual’s weekly regular UC benefits. 7 The EUC08 program has been amended 11 times (P.L. 110-449, P.L. 111-5, P.L. 111-92, P.L. 111-118, P.L. 111-144, P.L. 111-157, P.L. 111-205, P.L. 111-312, P.L. 112-78, P.L. 112-96, and P.L. 112-240). For more details on EUC08, including its legislative history, CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. 8 The TUR (the total unemployment rate) is the seasonally-adjusted, three-month average of the ratio of unemployed workers to all workers (employed and unemployed) in the labor market. 9 The IUR (the insured unemployment rate) is the ratio of UC claimants divided by individuals in UC-covered jobs. 10 DOL’s weekly trigger notices for the EB program are available online at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/ unemploy/claims_arch.asp. 11 Alaska was the only state to pay EB benefits first when this option was available under P.L. 110-252, as amended. 12 This temporary 100% federal financing of EB benefits does not include “non-sharable” benefits (generally, these are former state and local employees’ EB benefits). Congressional Research Service 3 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws changed the financing of EB benefits to be 100% federal funding through December 31, 2013.14 (This temporary 100% federal funding for EB is now expired.) The EB benefit amount is equal to the eligible individual's weekly regular UC benefits. There are two types of payable periods for EB benefits. First, if it meets certain state economic criteria and has certain state law trigger options in place,13 a state may pay EB benefits through an EB Unemployment Period. As discussed below, the duration of an EB Unemployment Period is based on the duration of regular UC benefits. For most states (i.e., those states with a UC maximum duration of up to 26 weeks), the EB Unemployment Period may provide up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to eligible individuals. Second, a state may pay benefits through an EB High Unemployment Period if that state meets certain state economic criteria and has certain state law trigger options in place.1415 Because the duration of an EB High Unemployment Period is based on the duration of regular UC benefits in most states (i.e., those states with a UC maximum duration of up to 26 weeks), up to 20 additional weeks of EB benefits may be available to eligible individuals. State Law Changes to UC Benefit Duration Regular state UC benefits are financed through state payroll taxes on employers. The state unemployment tax rate on employers in all states is "experience rated," that is, the state tax rate is based on the amount of UC paid to former employees. Generally, the more UC benefits paid to its former employees, the higher the tax rate of the employer, up to a maximum established by state law. state law. As a result of the most recent recession and its accompanying prolonged and high unemployment, states have paid out large amounts of UC benefits ($75.3 billion in FY2009 and $63.0 billion in FY2010 versus $30.2 billion in FY2006 and $31.4 billion in FY2007).1516 This increase in state expenditures on UC benefits has also led to large outstanding federal loans in many states16 as states17 as well as increased employer tax rates in most states. In response to similar state UC financial stress following prior recessions, states have typically reduced the amount of UC benefits paid to individuals through reductions in the maximum benefit amount or through changes in the underlying benefit calculations. Under current federal lawPrior to the expiration of EUC08, however, most states arewere temporarily prohibited from reducing UC benefit amounts through changes to benefit calculation17calculation18 and, therefore, have acted to reduce UC benefit duration as an alternative means to decrease total UC benefit payments. Therefore, these state UC benefit duration reductions are, in part, a response to UC financial crises facing states. At the same time, however, the duration for current federal unemployment benefits—any EB periods (and each tier of the EUC08 program and any EB periodswhen it was authorized)—are calculated based on state UC benefit duration. Thus, states that have enacted laws to reduce the duration of regular UC benefits have also reduced the duration of EUC08 and EB benefits. 13 For details on these EB triggers, see report section on “State Law Enactment of EB Trigger Options.” Ibid. 15 For more details on revenues and expenditures associated with UC benefits, see CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. 16 For more details on federal loans to states to pay UC benefits, see CRS Report RS22954, The Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF): State Insolvency and Federal Loans to States, by Julie M. Whittaker. 17 For a fuller discussion of this issue, including details on two states that have been able to reduce weekly UC benefit amounts, see the report section on “States with Reduced Weekly Benefit Amounts.” 14 Congressional Research Service 4 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Currently, there are seven reduced the duration of EB benefits (and EUC08 benefits when that program was still authorized). Currently, there are eight states with decreased maximum UC durations in effect: • ArkansasArkansas decreased its state UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to 25 weeks, effective March 30, 2011. • Florida Florida decreased the maximum UC duration from 26 weeks to a variable maximum duration, depending on the state unemployment rate and ranging from 12 weeks up to 23 weeks. Up to 12 weeks will be available if the state unemployment rate is 5% or less. Each 0.5% increase in the state unemployment rate above 5% will add an additional week of UC benefit duration. Finally, up to 23 weeks of regular UC benefits will be available if the state unemployment rate is at least 10.5%.18 This benefit reduction was effective January 1, 2012. • Georgia Georgia decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to a variable maximum duration that ranges between 14 weeks and 20 weeks, depending on the unemployment rate in the state. A maximum UC duration of 14 weeks will be available if the state unemployment rate is 6.5% or less. Each 0.5% increase in the state unemployment rate above 6.5% will add additional weeks of UC benefit duration up to a maximum of 20 weeks of UC benefits if the state unemployment rate is at least 9%.19 This benefit reduction was effective May 2, 2012. • Michigan decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. This
  • Kansas decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to a variable maximum duration, using a tiered system based on the state unemployment rate. Up to 16 weeks will be available if the state unemployment rate is less than 4.5%; up to 20 weeks if the state unemployment rate is at least 4.5% and less than 6.0%; and up to 26 weeks if the state unemployment rate is at least 6.0%. This benefit reduction was effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
  • Michigan decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. This
    change was effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits on or after January 15, 2012. • Missouri Missouri decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to 20 weeks, effective April 13, 2011. North Carolina decreased the maximum UC duration from 26 weeks to a variable maximum duration, depending on the state unemployment rate and ranging from 12 weeks up to 20 weeks. Up to 12 weeks will be available if the state unemployment rate is 5.5% or less. Each 0.5% increase in the state unemployment rate above 5.5% will add an additional week of UC benefit duration. Finally, up to 20 weeks of regular UC benefits will be available if the state unemployment rate is greater than 9%.20 This benefit reduction is effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits on or after July 1, 2013. South Carolina also decreased its UC maximum duration from 26 weeks to 20 weeks, effective June 14, 2011. AdditionallyIn addition, one state enacted a law with the potential to decrease maximum UC duration if certain program criteria are met across different calendar years: • IllinoisIllinois enacted a law that has the potential to decrease UC maximum duration in the state (i.e., from up to 26 weeks down to up to 25 weeks or up to 24 weeks), ), depending on certain program criteria as well as calendar year. This law was 18 The three-month average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Florida in May 2013 is 7.3%, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. 19 The three-month average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Georgia in May 2013 is 8.3%, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. 20 The three-month average, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for North Carolina in May 2013 is 9.0%, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. Congressional Research Service 5 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws effective January 1, 2012. In 2012, the program criteria were met so that only up to 25 weeks of UC benefits were available. In 2013subsequent years, however, the required program criteria were not have not been met. Therefore, up to 26 weeks of UC benefits are currently available in Illinois. Table 1 also provides details on these state changes to UC benefit duration. Table 1. States with Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law Changes That That Decrease Benefit Duration State State Bill or Act Number Prior Maximum UC Duration New Maximum UC Duration Effective Date of New Maximum UC Duration Arkansas Act 861, 88th General Assembly 26 weeks 25 weeks Effective upon enactment (March 30, 2011) Florida Chapter 2011-235, Laws of Florida 26 weeks Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: Effective January 1, 2012 (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5% or below (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5% (3) 23 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 10.5% Georgia Act 710 (House Bill 347), Georgia General Assembly, 2011-2012 Regular Session 26 weeks Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: Effective May 2, 2012 (1) 14 weeks if state unemployment rate is 6.5% or below (2) additional amount added to 14 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 6.5% (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 9.0% Illinois Public Act 097-0001, 97th General Assembly Congressional Research Service 26 weeks Variable duration based on program criteria and calendar year (ranging from

    State

    State Bill or Act Number

    Prior Maximum UC Duration

    New Maximum UC Duration

    Effective Date of New Maximum UC Duration

    Arkansas

    Act 861, 88th General Assembly

    26 weeks

    25 weeks

    Effective upon enactment (March 30, 2011)

    Florida

    Chapter 2011-235, Laws of Florida

    26 weeks

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

    (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5% or below

    (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5%

    (3) 23 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 10.5%

    Effective January 1, 2012

    Georgia

    Act 710 (House Bill 347), Georgia General Assembly, 2011-2012 Regular Session

    26 weeks

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

    (1) 14 weeks if state unemployment rate is 6.5% or below

    (2) additional amount added to 14 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 6.5%

    (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 9.0%

    Effective May 2, 2012

    Illinois

    Public Act 097-0001, 97th General Assembly

    26 weeks

    Variable duration based on program criteria and calendar year (ranging from
    up to 24 weeks to up to 26 weeks) Effective January 1, 2012 6 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws State State Bill or Act Number Prior Maximum UC Duration New Maximum UC Duration Effective Date of New Maximum UC Duration Michigan Act No. 14, Public Acts of 2011 26 weeks 20 weeks Effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits on or after January 15, 2012 Missouri House Bill No. 163, 96th General Assembly 26 weeks 20 weeks Effective upon enactment (April 13, 2011) North Carolina Session Law 2013-2, General Assembly of North Carolina, Session 2013 26 weeks Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: Effective July 1, 2013 (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5.5% or below (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5.5% (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is greater than 9.0% South Carolina Act No. 63, South Carolina General Assembly, 119th Session 26 weeks 20 weeks Effective upon enactment (June 14, 2011) Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service. Consequences of Reduced UC Benefit Duration for Federal Unemployment Programs Calculation of Benefit Duration for EUC08 Tiers The duration of each tier of benefits in the EUC08 program is calculated through a formula based on state UC benefit duration.21 Therefore, states that have enacted laws to reduce the duration of regular UC benefits will also experience a reduction in the duration of EUC08 benefits. 21 Under current law, the duration of benefits for each tier of EUC08 (as well as any EB payable period) is set through calculations based on the lesser of (1) the state benefit criteria, which is a set percentage of the duration of regular UC benefits (e.g., 54% of the individual’s total regular UC duration in a benefit year for Tier I of EUC08, currently) or (2) the maximum weekly amount criteria, which is the multiple of an individual’s average weekly benefit amount under the UC program (e.g., 13 times an individual’s average weekly benefit amount in a benefit year for Tier I of EUC08, currently). In the event of state reduction in UC benefit durations, the former calculation—the state benefit criteria— will be lower and, thus, applicable. Therefore, this report’s discussion of the benefit duration calculation for all tiers of EUC08 and all payable periods of EB focuses on this state benefit criteria formula in its explanations and illustrations of duration calculations. Congressional Research Service 7 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Specific formulas for the duration of each tier of EUC08 are presented below.22 Examples of adjusted EUC08 benefit durations—based on a weekly benefit amount of $300 and a new maximum UC duration of 20 weeks—are also provided:23 • Tier I of EUC08 • Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual’s total regular UC benefits in benefit year • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, the unreduced EUC08 tier I duration would have been up to 20 weeks—based on up to 26 weeks of unreduced state UC benefits—at a weekly benefit amount of $300) • • Tier II of EUC08 • Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual’s total regular UC benefits in benefit year • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 14 weeks at $300) • • 54% of 20 weeks of UC=10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8=$240) Tier III of EUC08 • Duration formula: 35% of the duration of an individual’s total regular UC benefits in benefit year • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 13 weeks at $300) • • 54% of 20 weeks of UC=10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8=$240) 35% of 20 weeks of UC=7 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 Tier IV of EUC08 • Duration formula: 39% of the duration of an individual’s total regular UC benefits in benefit year • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 6 weeks at $300) • 39% of 20 weeks of UC=7.8 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8=$240) EUC08 tier duration calculations for each state that has enacted a reduction in regular UC benefit up to 26 weeks)

    Effective January 1, 2012

    Kansas

    Substitute for HB 2105

    26 weeks

    Variable duration by tiers based on state unemployment rate:

    (1) 16 weeks if state unemployment rate is less than 4.5%

    (2) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 4.5% but less than 6.0%

    (3) 26 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 6.0%

    Effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits on or after January 1, 2014

    Michigan

    Act No. 14, Public Acts of 2011

    26 weeks

    20 weeks

    Effective for individuals filing an initial claim for UC benefits on or after January 15, 2012

    Missouri

    House Bill No. 163, 96th General Assembly

    26 weeks

    20 weeks

    Effective upon enactment (April 13, 2011)

    North Carolina

    Session Law 2013-2, General Assembly of North Carolina, Session 2013

    26 weeks

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

    (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5.5% or below

    (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5.5%

    (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is greater than 9.0%

    Effective July 1, 2013

    South Carolina

    Act No. 63, South Carolina General Assembly, 119th Session

    26 weeks

    20 weeks

    Effective upon enactment (June 14, 2011)

    Source: Compiled by the Congressional Research Service.

    Consequences of Reduced UC Benefit Duration for Federal Unemployment Programs Calculation of Benefit Duration for EUC08 Tiers (when EUC08 was authorized) Prior to the expiration of EUC08, the duration of each tier of benefits was calculated through a formula based on state UC benefit duration.19 Therefore, states that enacted laws to reduce the duration of regular UC benefits also experienced a reduction in the duration of EUC08 benefits when the program was authorized. Specific formulas for the duration of each tier of EUC08 (when authorized) are presented below.20 Examples of adjusted EUC08 benefit durations—based on a weekly benefit amount of $300 and a new maximum UC duration of 20 weeks—are also provided:21
    • Tier I of EUC08 (prior to expiration)
    • Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year
    • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, the unreduced EUC08 tier I duration would have been up to 20 weeks—based on up to 26 weeks of unreduced state UC benefits—at a weekly benefit amount of $300)
    • 54% of 20 weeks of UC = 10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240)
    • Tier II of EUC08 (prior to expiration)
    • Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year
    • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 14 weeks at $300)
    • 54% of 20 weeks of UC = 10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240)
    • Tier III of EUC08 (prior to expiration)
    • Duration formula: 35% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year
    • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 13 weeks at $300)
    • 35% of 20 weeks of UC = 7 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300
    • Tier IV of EUC08 (prior to expiration)
    • Duration formula: 39% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year
    • Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 6 weeks at $300)
    • 39% of 20 weeks of UC = 7.8 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240)
    EUC08 tier duration calculations (prior to program expiration) for each state that enacted a reduction in regular UC benefit
    duration are provided in Table 2. Calculation of Benefit Duration for EB Payable Periods Table 2. 22 These EUC08 benefit duration formulas are currently effective for EUC08 tiers. The structure and availability of EUC08 tiers has changed several times since the initial EUC08 program authorization. For more details on this legislative history, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. 23 The average weekly benefit amount is roughly $300 across all states for September 2013 (DOL). Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina have enacted state laws to reduce their maximum UC benefit duration to 20 weeks. Congressional Research Service 8 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Calculation of Benefit Duration for EB Payable Periods The duration of benefits for the two types of EB payable periods are set through calculations similar in structure to the calculations for EUC08 tier durations.24 As is (when EUC08 was authorized).22 As was the case with the EUC08 program, state reductions in UC benefit durations lead to proportional reductions in the duration of the EB payable periods. The EB payable period duration calculations and illustration of adjusted EB durations (using $300 as the weekly benefit amount and a new UC maximum duration of 20 weeks)2523 are below:EB Unemployment Period Duration formula: 50% of the duration of individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly up to 13 weeks at $300) • • 50% of 20 weeks of UC= = 10 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 EB High Unemployment Period Duration formula: 80% of the duration individual’of individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly up to 20 weeks at $300) 80% of 20 weeks of UC= = 16 weeks; up to 16 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 Table 2 displays EB payable period duration calculations for each state that has enacted a reduction in regular UC benefit duration. 24 25 See footnote 21 for more technical details. See footnote 23 for rationale behind these data points. Congressional Research Service 9 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Table 2. Adjusted Maximum EUC08 (when authorized) and EB Benefit Duration Resulting from Changes to State Maximum UC Benefit Duration State Adjusted Maximum UC Duration Arkansas 25 weeks Florida Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5% or below (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5% (3) 23 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 10.5% CRS-10 Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier I Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier II Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier III Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier IV Duration Adjusted Maximum EB Unemployment Period Duration 13 weeks and 1 week at 0.5xWBA 13 weeks and 1 week at 0.5xWBA 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.75xWBA 9 weeks and 1 week at 0.75xWBA 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.5xWBA Adjusted Maximum EB High Unemployment Period Duration 20 weeks Effective Date for Adjusted UC Durations Effective 3/31/11 Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs 90.5 weeks Effective 1/1/12 With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks and 1 week at 0.48xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks and 1 week at 0.48xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.2xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.68xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks at WBA With 12 week UC duration: 9 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.6xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 43.428 weeks With 23 week UC duration: 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.42xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.42xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.05xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.97xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 11 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.5xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 18 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.4xWBA With 23 week UC duration: 83.26 weeks UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws State Georgia Adjusted Maximum UC Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier I Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier II Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier III Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier IV Duration Adjusted Maximum EB Unemployment Period Duration Adjusted Maximum EB High Unemployment Period Duration Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: (1) 14 weeks if state unemployment rate is 6.5% or below Effective Date for Adjusted UC Durations Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs Effective 5/2/2012 With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.56xWBA With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.56xWBA With 14 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.9xWBA With 14 week UC duration: 5 weeks and 1 week at 0.46xWBA With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks at WBA With 14 week UC duration: 11 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.2xWBA With 14 week UC duration: 50.68 weeks (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 9.0% With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 16 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 72.4 weeks 20 weeks 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA 10 weeks 16 weeks (2) additional amount added to 14 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 6.5% Michigan CRS-11 Effective for individuals filing initial claims for UC benefits on or after 1/15/12 72.4 weeks UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws State Adjusted Maximum UC Duration Missouri 20 weeks North Carolina Variable duration based on state unemployment rate: (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5.5% or below Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier I Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier II Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier III Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier IV Duration 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA Adjusted Maximum EB Unemployment Period Duration Adjusted Maximum EB High Unemployment Period Duration 10 weeks 16 weeks Effective Date for Adjusted UC Durations Effective 4/13/11 Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs 72.4 weeks Effective for individuals filing initial claims for UC benefits on or after 7/1/13 NA NA NA NA With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks at WBA With 12 week UC duration: 9 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.6xWBA With 12 week UC duration: 21.6 weeks NA NA NA NA With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 16 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 36 weeks (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5.5% (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is greater than 9.0% CRS-12 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws State South Carolina Adjusted Maximum UC Duration 20 weeks Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier I Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier II Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier III Duration Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier IV Duration 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8xWBA Adjusted Maximum EB Unemployment Period Duration Adjusted Maximum EB High Unemployment Period Duration 10 weeks 16 weeks Effective Date for Adjusted UC Durations Effective 6/14/11 Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs 72.4 weeks Source: Compiled by Congressional Research Service. Notes: WBA: weekly benefit amount. All weeks of benefits are paid out in terms of full WBA unless a pro-rated WBA calculation is provided. States may augment prorated weeks of EUC08 tiers with amounts from subsequent EUC08 tiers in order to bring payments up to the full weekly benefit amount (Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, “Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008—Questions and Answers,” Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 23-08, Change 3, December 24, 2008, http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL23-08C3.pdf )The “Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs” column sums the total weeks from all four tiers of EUC08 and an EB High Unemployment Period, including full weeks of WBA and pro-rated weeks of WBA. Illinois is not listed in this table since there is no UC maximum duration reduction effective in IL currently. NA: not available. Due to a violation of the “nonreduction” rule (under P.L. 111-205, as amended), the EUC08 agreement between North Carolina and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor has terminated. All tiers of EUC08 ended in North Carolina as of June 29, 2013. The adjusted maximum benefit durations listed in the table for EUC08 and EB (and the maximum duration from all programs, which had previously been 93 weeks) apply to beneficiaries who file an initial claim for UC benefits after the effective date for adjusted UC durations. Individuals who received or are receiving UC benefits prior to the effective date for the state reduction in maximum UC benefits maintain the previous, unreduced UC, EUC08, and EB benefit durations. The EUC08 benefit duration formulas provided in this table are effective for EUC08 tiers currently authorized under P.L. 112-240 UC Benefit Duration

    State

    Adjusted Maximum UC Duration

    Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier I Duration (prior to expiration)

    Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier II Duration(prior to expiration) Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier III Duration(prior to expiration) Adjusted Maximum EUC08 Tier IV Duration(prior to expiration)

    Adjusted Maximum EB Unemployment Period Duration

    Adjusted Maximum EB High Unemployment Period Duration

    Effective Date for Adjusted UC Durations

    Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs(prior to EUC08 expiration)

    Arkansas

    25 weeks

    13 weeks and 1 week at 0.5 × WBA

    13 weeks and 1 week at 0.5 × WBA

    8 weeks and 1 week at 0.75 × WBA

    9 weeks and 1 week at 0.75 × WBA

    12 weeks and 1 week at 0.5 × WBA

    20 weeks

    Effective 3/31/11

    90.5 weeks

    Florida

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

               

    Effective 1/1/12

       

    (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5% or below

    (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5%

    With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks and 1 week at 0.48 × WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks and 1 week at 0.48 × WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.2 × WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.68 × WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks at WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 9 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.6 × WBA

     

    With 12 week UC duration: 43.428 weeks

     

    (3) 23 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 10.5%

    With 23 week UC duration: 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.42 × WBA

    With 23 week UC duration: 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.42 × WBA

    With 23 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.05 × WBA

    With 23 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.97 × WBA

    With 23 week UC duration: 11 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.5 × WBA

    With 23 week UC duration: 18 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.4 × WBA

     

    With 23 week UC duration: 83.26 weeks

    Georgia

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

               

    Effective 5/2/2012

       

    (1) 14 weeks if state unemployment rate is 6.5% or below

    With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.56 × WBA

    With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.56 × WBA

    With 14 week UC duration: 4 weeks and 1 week at 0.9 × WBA

    With 14 week UC duration: 5 weeks and 1 week at 0.46 × WBA

    With 14 week UC duration: 7 weeks at WBA

    With 14 week UC duration: 11 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.2 × WBA

     

    With 14 week UC duration: 50.68 weeks

     

    (2) additional amount added to 14 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 6.5%

                     

    (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 9.0%

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 16 weeks

     

    With 20 week UC duration: 72.4 weeks

    Kansas

    Variable duration by tiers based on state unemployment rate:

               

    Effective for individuals filing initial claims for UC benefits on or after 1/1/14

       

    (1) 16 weeks if state unemployment rate is less than 4.5%

    With 16 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.64 × WBA

    With 16 week UC duration: 8 weeks and 1 week at 0.64 × WBA

    With 16 week UC duration: 5 weeks and 1 week at 0.6 × WBA

    With 16 week UC duration: 6 weeks and 1 week at 0.24 × WBA

    With 16 week UC duration: 8 weeks

    With 16 week UC duration: 12 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

     

    With 16 week UC duration: 57.9 weeks

     

    (2) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 4.5% but less than 6.0%

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 16 weeks

     

    With 20 week UC duration: 72.4 weeks

     

    (3) 26 weeks if state unemployment rate is at least 6.0%

    With 26 week UC duration: 14 weeks

    With 26 week UC duration: 14 weeks

    With 26 week UC duration: 9 weeks

    With 26 week UC duration: 10 weeks

    With 26 week UC duration: 13 weeks

    With 26 week UC duration: 20 weeks

     

    With 26 week UC duration: 93 weeks

    Michigan

    20 weeks

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks

    16 weeks

    Effective for individuals filing initial claims for UC benefits on or after 1/15/12

    72.4 weeks

    Missouri

    20 weeks

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks

    16 weeks

    Effective 4/13/11

    72.4 weeks

    North Carolina

    Variable duration based on state unemployment rate:

               

    Effective for individuals filing initial claims for UC benefits on or after 7/1/13

       

    (1) 12 weeks if state unemployment rate is 5.5% or below

    NA

    NA

    NA

    NA

    With 12 week UC duration: 6 weeks at WBA

    With 12 week UC duration: 9 weeks at WBA and 1 week at 0.6 × WBA

     

    With 12 week UC duration: 21.6 weeks

     

    (2) additional week added to 12 weeks for each 0.5% increase in state unemployment rate above 5.5%

                     

    (3) 20 weeks if state unemployment rate is greater than 9.0%

    NA

    NA

    NA

    NA

    With 20 week UC duration: 10 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 16 weeks

     

    With 20 week UC duration: 36 weeks

    South Carolina

    20 weeks

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks

    With 20 week UC duration: 7 weeks and 1 week at 0.8 × WBA

    10 weeks

    16 weeks

    Effective 6/14/11

    72.4 weeks

    Source: Compiled by Congressional Research Service.

    Notes: The authorization for the EUC08 program expired the week ending on or before January 1, 2014. Consequently, EUC08 benefits were available through December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, for New York). Adjusted maximum EUC08 benefit durations and adjusted maximum durations from all programs reflect EUC08 benefits authorized prior to this expiration.WBA: weekly benefit amount. All weeks of benefits are paid out in terms of full WBA unless a pro-rated WBA calculation is provided. States were authorized to augment pro-rated weeks of EUC08 tiers with amounts from subsequent EUC08 tiers to bring payments up to the full weekly benefit amount (Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, "Emergency Unemployment Compensation, 2008—Questions and Answers," Unemployment Insurance Program Letter 23-08, Change 3, December 24, 2008, http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/UIPL/UIPL23-08C3.pdf ). The "Adjusted Benefit Duration Maximum from All Programs" column sums the total weeks from all four tiers of EUC08 and an EB High Unemployment Period, including full weeks of WBA and pro-rated weeks of WBA. Illinois is not listed in this table because there is no UC maximum duration reduction effective in IL currently.NA: not available. Due to a violation of the "nonreduction" rule (under P.L. 111-205, as amended), the EUC08 agreement between North Carolina and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor was terminated. All tiers of EUC08 ended in North Carolina as of June 29, 2013. The adjusted maximum benefit durations listed in the table for EUC08 and EB (and the maximum duration from all programs, which had previously been 93 weeks) apply to beneficiaries who file an initial claim for UC benefits after the effective date for adjusted UC durations. Individuals who received or are receiving UC benefits prior to the effective date for the state reduction in maximum UC benefits maintain the previous, unreduced UC, EUC08, and EB benefit durations. The EUC08 benefit duration formulas provided in this table were effective prior to EUC08 expiration
    . For more details, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Current Status of Benefits, by Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. Under current law, the authorization for the EUC08 program expires the week ending on or before January 1, 2014. Consequently, EUC08 benefits are available through December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013 for New York). CRS-13 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Status of Benefits Prior to Expiration, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]. States with Reduced Weekly Benefit Amounts P.L. 110-252, as amended, includes a “nonreduction”included a "nonreduction" rule that makesmade the availability of federally financed EUC08 benefits (when authorized) contingent on not actively changing the state's method of calculation for UC benefits, if it would decreasethe method would have decreased weekly benefit amounts. This “nonreduction” rule is a "nonreduction" rule was a condition of the EUC08 federal-state agreement prior to EUC08 expiration. In general, states arewere not permitted to pay an average weekly UC benefit amount that is less than what would have been paid under state law prior to what was in effect as of June 2, 2010, and still be able to pay EUC08 benefits.2624 However, states maycould reduce weekly benefits if that reduction happens automatically in certain circumstances as required by a state law that was in place before the enactment of P.L. 111-5. Any reduction to the UC weekly benefit amount also translates into reduced EUC08 (when authorized) and EB weekly benefit amounts. Prior to P.L. 110-252, 36 states had enacted state laws that calculate the maximum weekly UC benefit via automaticautomatic adjustments based on the average weekly wage in a state.2725 Therefore, if the average weekly wage declines in these states, they may experience automatic reductions in UC average weekly benefit amount, which are permitted under the “nonreduction”"nonreduction" rule. For instance, in 2011, New Jersey and Oklahoma appear to have met these conditions and to have experienced automatic reductions in their state UC weekly benefit amount. Similarly, in 2012, Hawaii also seems to have met the necessary conditions to automatically reduce the state UC weekly benefit amount.28 26 P.L. 112-96 provided a specific exception to this UC “nonreduction”"nonreduction" rule in the case of state legislation that was enacted before March 1, 2012. States that made changes to the regular UC benefit amount prior to March 1, 2012, arewere not subject to the “nonreduction” rule. "nonreduction" rule. In February 2013, North Carolina enacted legislation that includesincluded a provision to actively reduce UC weekly benefit amounts in the state. Effective on or after July 1, 2013, this state law provision violated the “nonreduction” rule and, therefore, terminated the EUC08 agreement between North 26 The current “nonreduction” rule was put into place when P.L. 111-205 amended P.L. 110-252. There was a similar, but programmatically distinct “nonreduction” rule in P.L. 111-5, as amended, which prevented states from actively changing the method of calculation of the UC weekly benefit amount to pay UC benefit amounts less than what would have been paid under state law prior to December 31, 2008. No states acted to decrease UC benefit amounts between December 31, 2008, and June 2, 2010, when the federal authorization for this earlier “nonreduction” rule expired. 27 The 36 states that calculate benefit amounts using automatic adjustments under prior state law are Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These 36 states could experience reductions in UC weekly benefit amounts under the “nonreduction” rule if (1) the average weekly wages in states declined and the corresponding methods of calculation formula resulted in a benefit decrease (for specific information regarding these state-specific methods of benefit calculation, see DOL’s “Comparison of State Unemployment Laws, 2013,” Chapter 3: Monetary Eligibility, Table 3.6, pp. 13-15, available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2013/monetary.pdf) and (2) the state did not otherwise prevent this benefit amount reduction through enactment of new state legislation. 28 See DOL’s “Significant Provisions of State UI Laws,” available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/ unemploy/statelaws.asp. Congressional Research Service 14 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Carolina and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. All tiers of EUC08 ended in North Carolina as of June 29, 2013.29 Any state UC benefit reductions also reduce weekly amounts for EUC08 and EB benefits, which are paid out in the same amount. Only individuals filing new state UC claims after the effective date for reduced UC durations, however, would experience reductions in UC, EUC08, or EB benefits. State Law Enactment of EB Trigger Options The EB program is active (“triggered on”) and pays unemployment benefits when a state’s insured unemployment rate (IUR)30 or total unemployment rate (TUR)31 reaches certain levels. All states must pay up to 13 weeks of EB if the IUR for the previous 13 weeks is at least 5% and is 120% of the average of the rates for the same 13-week period in each of the 2 previous years (a 2-year lookback). There are two other optional thresholds that states may choose. (States may choose one, two, or none.) If the state has chosen a given option, they would provide the following: • Option 1: an additional 13 weeks of benefits if the state’s IUR is at least 6%, regardless of previous years’ averages. • Option 2: an additional 13 weeks of benefits if the state’s TUR is at least 6.5% and is at least 110% of the state’s average TUR for the same 13 weeks in either of the previous two years; an additional 20 weeks of benefits if the TUR is at least 8% and is at least 110% of the state’s average TUR for the same 13 weeks in either of the previous two years. In addition to the optional EB triggers themselves, P.L. 111-312 (signed December 17, 2010) made technical changes to certain triggers in the EB program. P.L. 111-312, as amended, allows states to temporarily use lookback calculations based on three years of unemployment rate data (rather than the current lookback of two years of data) as part of their mandatory IUR and optional TUR triggers if states would otherwise trigger off or not be on a period of EB benefits. Using a two-year versus a three-year EB trigger lookback is an important adjustment because some states are likely to trigger off their EB periods in the near future despite high, sustained— but not increasing—unemployment rates. 29 See U.S. Department of Labor, EUC08 Trigger Notice No. 2013-24, effective June 30, 2013, http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2013/euc_063013.html; and North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, “Unemployment Insurance Law Changes—Claimants Questions and Answers,” http://www.ncesc1.com/individual/2013LawChangeQA.asp. 30 The IUR is the ratio of UC claimants divided by individuals in UC-covered jobs. The IUR excludes several important groups: self-employed workers, unpaid family workers, workers in certain not-for-profit organizations, and several other, primarily seasonal, categories of workers. In addition to those unemployed workers whose last jobs were in the excluded employment, the insured unemployed rate excludes the following: those who have exhausted their UC benefits (even if they receive EB or EUC08 benefits); new entrants or reentrants to the labor force; disqualified workers whose unemployment is considered to have resulted from their own actions rather than from economic conditions; and, eligible unemployed persons who do not file for benefits. 31 The TUR is the ratio of unemployed workers to all workers (employed and unemployed) in the labor market. The TUR is essentially a weekly version of the unemployment rate published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and based on data from the BLS’ monthly Current Population Survey. Congressional Research Service 15 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws For states to implement EB trigger lookback changes, each state had to individually opt to amend its state UC laws. These state law changes must be written in such a way that if the two-year lookback has the effect that the state would have an active EB program, no action would be taken. But if a two-year lookback is not effective as part of an EB trigger and the state is not triggered on to an EB period, then the state would be able to use a three-year lookback. This temporary option to use three-year EB trigger lookbacks expires the week on or before December 31, 2013. Currently, 11 states have adopted the optional TUR EB trigger (i.e., Option 2 above) into permanent state law: • Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington In addition, 28 states have temporarily adopted the TUR trigger into state law, linking the expiration of this optional EB trigger to the expiration of the 100% federal financing of EB, which is currently authorized through December 31, 2013 (under P.L. 112-240):32 • Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin As of October 27, 2013, there are 31 states that have enacted a three-year EB trigger lookback option (as temporarily authorized until the week ending on or before December 31, 2013, under P.L. 111-312, as amended most recently by P.L. 112-240): • Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin With few exceptions, only states that enacted the TUR trigger (in either permanent or temporary law) and also enacted the temporary three-year lookback had an active EB program paying benefits throughout 2011 and 2012. As of the week of October 27, 2013, however, no state meets the EB trigger criteria—either under “Option 1” or “Option 2”—to be able to pay EB benefits. Future increases in state unemployment rates and/or a reversal of the current trend of decreasing unemployment rates would be required in order to trigger on EB based on the TUR trigger and lookback requirement. Table 3 compiles enactment information for all three EB trigger options described above by state. 32 Under permanent law (P.L. 91-373), EB benefits are funded half (50%) by the federal government and half (50%) by states. The 2009 stimulus package (P.L. 111-5), as amended, temporarily changes the financing of EB benefits to be 100% federal funding until December 31, 2013. Congressional Research Service 16 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws Table 3. Extended Benefit (EB) Trigger Components Enacted by States State Permanent TUR Trigger Alabama Alaska Temporary TUR Trigger Three-Year Lookback X X X Arizona X Arkansas California X X Colorado X X Connecticut X X Delaware X X District of Columbia X X Florida X X Georgia X X Idaho X X Illinois X X Indiana X X Hawaii Iowa Kansas X Kentucky X X X Maine X X Maryland X X Massachusetts X X Michigan X X Louisiana Minnesota X X Mississippi Missouri X X X X New Mexico X X New York X X Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire X New Jersey X North Carolina X X North Dakota Congressional Research Service 17 UI: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws State Permanent TUR Trigger Ohio Temporary TUR Trigger Three-Year Lookback X X Oklahoma Oregon X Pennsylvania X X Puerto Rico Rhode Island X South Carolina X X X Tennessee X X Texas X X South Dakota Utah Vermont X Virgin Islands Virginia Washington X X West Virginia X X Wisconsin X X 28 31 Wyoming Total Number of States with EB Trigger Component 11 Source: Compiled by Congressional Research Service based on U.S. Department of Labor, Extended Benefit Trigger Notice No. 2013-41, effective October 27, 2013, http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/ unemploy/trigger/2013/trig_102713.html. Author Contact Information Katelin P. Isaacs Analyst in Income Security kisaacs@crs.loc.gov, 7-7355 Congressional Research Service 18 "nonreduction" rule and, therefore, terminated the EUC08 agreement between North Carolina and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. All tiers of EUC08 ended in North Carolina as of June 29, 2013.27 With the expiration of the EUC08 program as of the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State), the "nonreduction" rule is no longer effective.

    Any state UC benefit reductions also reduce weekly amounts for EB benefits (and EUC08 benefits when authorized), which are paid out in the same amount. Only individuals filing new state UC claims after the effective date for reduced UC durations, however, would experience reductions in UC, EUC08 (when authorized), or EB benefits.

    Footnotes

    1.

    Or, in the case of the states described in the report section on "State Law Changes to UC Benefit Duration," UC currently pays fewer than up to 26 weeks.

    2.

    See report section on "Calculation of Benefit Duration for EB Payable Periods" for the calculation of EB benefit durations in states that have reduced regular UC benefit duration.

    3.

    See report section on "Calculation of Benefit Duration for EUC08 Tiers" for the calculation of EUC08 benefit durations prior to EUC08 expiration in states with reduced regular UC benefit durations. In states without UC duration reductions up to 47 weeks of total EUC08 benefits was generally available prior to EUC08 expiration in certain states with high unemployment. For more details on the structure and availability of EUC08 benefits, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Status of Benefits Prior to Expiration, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

    4.

    The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are considered to be states in UC law.

    5.

    Puerto Rico is an exception to this pattern of state convergence on 26 weeks as the maximum UC benefit duration in the 1960s. When it originally entered the federal-state UC system in 1961, Puerto Rico provided a lower maximum UC benefit duration (i.e., up to 16 weeks in 1961 and then up to 20 weeks for most of the 1970-1990 period). Puerto Rico did not provide up to 26 weeks of UC benefits until 1991. For more information on state UC benefit duration, including changes over time, see DOL's "Significant Provisions of State UI Laws," available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/statelaws.asp#sigprouilaws.

    6.

    The other programs became effective in 1958, 1961, 1972, 1975, 1982, 1991, and 2002. See CRS Report RL34340, Extending Unemployment Compensation Benefits During Recessions, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

    7.

    The EUC08 program has been amended 11 times (P.L. 110-449, P.L. 111-5, P.L. 111-92, P.L. 111-118, P.L. 111-144, P.L. 111-157, P.L. 111-205, P.L. 111-312, P.L. 112-78, P.L. 112-96, and P.L. 112-240). For more details on EUC08, including its legislative history, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Status of Benefits Prior to Expiration, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

    8.

    Effective on or after July 1, 2013, EUC08 benefits were no longer available in North Carolina. North Carolina enacted legislation in February 2013 that included a provision to actively reduce UC weekly benefit amounts in the state. This state law provision violated the "nonreduction" rule and, therefore, terminated the EUC08 agreement between North Carolina and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

    9.

    See previous footnote. North Carolina terminated its EUC08 agreement on July 1, 2013.

    10.

    The TUR (the total unemployment rate) is the seasonally-adjusted, three-month average of the ratio of unemployed workers to all workers (employed and unemployed) in the labor market.

    11.

    The IUR (the insured unemployment rate) is the ratio of UC claimants divided by individuals in UC-covered jobs.

    12.

    DOL's weekly trigger notices for the EB program are available online at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp.

    13.

    Alaska was the only state to pay EB benefits first when this option was available under P.L. 110-252, as amended.

    14.

    This temporary 100% federal financing of EB benefits did not include "non-sharable" benefits (generally, these are former state and local employees' EB benefits).

    15.

    Ibid.

    16.

    For more details on revenues and expenditures associated with UC benefits, see CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Programs and Benefits, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

    17.

    For more details on federal loans to states to pay UC benefits, see CRS Report RS22954, The Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF): State Insolvency and Federal Loans to States, by [author name scrubbed].

    18.

    For a fuller discussion of this issue, including details on states that have been able to reduce weekly UC benefit amounts, see the report section on "States with Reduced Weekly Benefit Amounts."

    19.

    Prior to program expiration, the duration of benefits for each tier of EUC08 (as well as any EB payable period) was set through calculations based on the lesser of (1) the state benefit criteria, which is a set percentage of the duration of regular UC benefits (e.g., 54% of the individual's total regular UC duration in a benefit year for Tier I of EUC08 prior to expiration) or (2) the maximum weekly amount criteria, which is the multiple of an individual's average weekly benefit amount under the UC program (e.g., 13 times an individual's average weekly benefit amount in a benefit year for Tier I of EUC08 prior to expiration). In the event of state reduction in UC benefit durations, the former calculation—the state benefit criteria—would be lower and, thus, applicable. Therefore, this report's discussion of the benefit duration calculation for all tiers of EUC08 (when authorized) and all payable periods of EB focuses on this state benefit criteria formula in its explanations and illustrations of duration calculations.

    20.

    These EUC08 benefit duration formulas were effective for EUC08 tiers prior to expiration. The structure and availability of EUC08 tiers changed several times since the initial EUC08 program authorization. For more details on this legislative history, see CRS Report R42444, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08): Status of Benefits Prior to Expiration, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

    21.

    The average weekly benefit amount was $315—or roughly $300—across all states as of July 2014 (DOL). Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina have enacted state laws to reduce their maximum UC benefit duration to 20 weeks.

    22.

    See footnote 19 for more technical details.

    23.

    See footnote 21 for rationale behind these data points.

    24.

    This "nonreduction" rule was put into place when P.L. 111-205 amended P.L. 110-252. There was a similar, but programmatically distinct "nonreduction" rule in P.L. 111-5, as amended, which prevented states from actively changing the method of calculation of the UC weekly benefit amount to pay UC benefit amounts less than what would have been paid under state law prior to December 31, 2008. No states acted to decrease UC benefit amounts between December 31, 2008, and June 2, 2010, when the federal authorization for this earlier "nonreduction" rule expired.

    25.

    The 36 states that calculate benefit amounts using automatic adjustments under prior state law are Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    These 36 states could experience reductions in UC weekly benefit amounts under the "nonreduction" rule if (1) the average weekly wages in states declined and the corresponding methods of calculation formula resulted in a benefit decrease (for specific information regarding these state-specific methods of benefit calculation, see DOL's "Comparison of State Unemployment Laws, 2013," Chapter 3: Monetary Eligibility, Table 3.6, pp. 13-15, available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/uilawcompar/2013/monetary.pdf) and (2) the state did not otherwise prevent this benefit amount reduction through enactment of new state legislation.

    26.

    See DOL's "Significant Provisions of State UI Laws," available at http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/statelaws.asp.

    27.

    See U.S. Department of Labor, EUC08 Trigger Notice No. 2013-24, effective June 30, 2013, http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/euc_trigger/2013/euc_063013.html; and North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security, "Unemployment Insurance Law Changes—Claimants Questions and Answers," http://www.ncesc1.com/individual/2013LawChangeQA.asp.