Unemployment Benefits: Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) Program

Unemployment Benefits: Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) Program

Order Code RS21397
Updated July 28, 2003
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Unemployment Benefits: Temporary Extended
Unemployment Compensation (TEUC)
Program
Celinda Franco
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
The Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (TEUC), was
signed into law March 9, 2002, as a part of P.L. 107-147. TEUC provides up to 13
weeks of additional federally funded unemployment compensation (UC) to individuals
in all states who exhaust their regular UC benefits. TEUC also provides a second tier
of 13 weeks of benefits to individuals who exhaust their benefits in a high-
unemployment state (TEUC-X). On January 8, 2003, Congress passed S. 23 (P.L. 108-
1) extending the TEUC program through May 31, 2003, and phasing-out benefits
through August 30, 2003. On April 16, 2003, P.L. 108-11 was signed into law, creating
a parallel TEUC program called TEUC-A. TEUC-A provides up to 39 weeks of
benefits for displaced airline workers, and provides a second tier (TEUC-AX) of
benefits to individuals exhausting their TEUC-A benefits in a high-unemployment state.
The Congress passed H.R. 2185, extending the TEUC program through December 31,
2003, and the President signed the bill into law on May 28, 2003 (P.L. 108-26). This
report will be updated as events warrant.
Background
The federal/state unemployment compensation (UC) system is designed to provide
temporary and partial wage replacement to workers who have become involuntarily
unemployed for economic reasons. UC pays weekly cash benefits on the basis of past
work. The Department of Labor (DoL) oversees the UC system, but each state designs
and administers its own program. Each state establishes the laws that levy taxes to
support regular benefit payments and pays half of the permanent extended benefit (EB)
payments; sets eligibility rules; determines weekly benefit amounts (WBAs); and limits
the duration of regular benefits. Federal law establishes the requirements for the approval
of state programs, authorizes grants to states for UC administration, and establishes the
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Unemployment Trust Fund (UTF), a federal fund that accounts for both federal and state
program revenues and spending.1
The UC system generally provides a sufficient duration of benefits during periods
of economic prosperity, as most UC beneficiaries experience fewer weeks of
unemployment than their maximum entitlement and return to work before their benefit
rights are exhausted.2 However, during periods of economic decline, people tend to
remain unemployed longer because of greater difficulty finding new jobs, and a rising
proportion of jobless workers exhaust their UC benefits without finding work. Thus,
programs have been established to increase temporarily the duration of UC benefits
during periods of high unemployment. Since 1958, Congress has passed eight separate
programs to buttress the UC system during periods of economic decline.3
In November 2001, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) determined
that a recession began in March 2001. One unique feature of this economic decline was
the added impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. NBER maintained that the
attacks may have been a significant factor in altering the nature of the economic decline
from a contraction to a recession. The recession and the economic impacts of the attacks
placed added pressure on the 107th Congress to legislate some form of emergency or
supplemental extended benefits. A number of bills were introduced, containing varying
degrees of economic stimulus elements, including proposals to enact a federal extension
of unemployment benefits.
Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC)
The Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 was signed into law March 9,
2002 (P.L. 107-147). Title II of P.L. 107-147 is the Temporary Extended Unemployment
Compensation (TEUC) Act of 2002.4 The TEUC program is fully federally financed by
FUTA taxes that are credited to the Extended Unemployment Compensation Account in
the UTF. TEUC provides benefits equal to the amount of regular UC weekly benefits.
Eligibility. An individual is eligible for TEUC benefits if he or she (1) has filed an
initial (new or additional) claim that was effective during or after the week of March 15,
2002; and (2) has exhausted regular UC benefits or had no benefit rights due to expiration
of a benefit year ending during or after the week of March 15, 2001; (3) has no rights to
1 The Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) levies a tax on private employers. These taxes
are paid into several accounts in the UTF. One of these accounts is the Extended Unemployment
Compensation Account (EUCA), which provides financing authority for the federal half of EB
and federally financed temporary UC benefits.
2 During 1993 (when the effects of the 1991 recession were reflected in the unemployment data),
the national average exhaustion rate for regular UC benefits was 38.4%, compared to 31.3% in
1999; 32.6% in 2001; and 38.8% in the 2nd quarter of 2002.
3 For more information regarding the history and structure of temporary extended unemployment
compensation programs see CRS Report RL31277, Temporary Programs to Extend
Unemployment Compensation, by Jennifer E. Lake.
4 In 1961 Congress passed a program called Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation.
This program has no relationship with the TEUC program of 2002.

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regular or extended benefits under any state or federal law; and (4) is not receiving
benefits under Canadian law.5 Individuals must also accumulate 20 weeks of work, or the
equivalent in wages, in their base periods in order to qualify for TEUC.
Benefit Tiers. Under the TEUC program, an individual’s benefit entitlement is
based upon the regular UC entitlement. TEUC law is written so that an individual
receives a total benefit over the life of the program that is equal to the lesser of 50% of
the regular UC entitlement or 13 times the state’s average weekly benefit amount.6
The TEUC program has two separate benefit tiers. The first tier, TEUC, provides
up to 13 weeks of extended benefits in every state, thus, it does not contain a trigger
mechanism or threshold requirement. This means that an eligible individual in any state
can receive up to a maximum of 13 weeks of extended benefits. The key point is that
individuals who are not eligible to receive the full 26 weeks (30 weeks in Massachusetts
and Washington)7 of regular UC will receive a TEUC allotment equal to half of their
regular UC benefit. For example, an individual who received 14 weeks of regular UC and
exhausts those benefits, would be eligible for 7 weeks of TEUC.
The second tier of benefits, TEUC-X, provides up to yet an additional 13 weeks of
extended UC benefits.8 This second extension is available only to those individuals who
exhaust their initial 13-week TEUC extension in a state classified as a “high-
unemployment” state at the time the individual exhausts the initial TEUC entitlement.
TEUC-X employs a trigger mechanism to determine whether or not a state is considered
a high-unemployment state.
A state is classified as a high-unemployment state if the state’s insured
unemployment rate (IUR) is at least 4%, and at least 120% of the average of the 13-week
IUR in the prior 2 years for the same 13-week calendar period. DoL provides updated
weekly trigger notices indicating when states have triggered on to the TEUC-X program.9
Once a state has triggered on to TEUC-X, that state remains classified as high-
unemployment for 13 weeks, regardless of whether or not the state’s IUR drops below the
4% criterion during that 13-week period. At the end of that 13 weeks, the state will
5 U.S. Department of Labor. Employment and Training Administration. Unemployment
Insurance Program Letter No. 17-02.
6 P.L. 107-147, Section 203(b)(1).
7 The “lesser of” segment of this provision also ensures that eligible individuals in Massachusetts
and Washington do not receive a larger TEUC entitlement than comparably eligible individuals
in other states. An individual who received a full 30 weeks of regular UC in Washington or
Massachusetts would (without the lesser of provision) be eligible for 15 weeks.
8 The TEUC-X benefit amount is equal to the first tier of TEUC benefits. For example, an
individual who exhausted an initial TEUC allotment of 7 weeks in a state classified as a high-
unemployment state would receive an additional 7 weeks of TEUC-X benefits. This would mean
that the individual in our example (above) would have received a total of 28 weeks of benefits
(14 weeks of regular UC, 7 weeks of TEUC, and 7 weeks of TEUC-X). The maximum
entitlement in a typical state would be up to 26 weeks of regular UC benefits, 13 weeks of TEUC,
and 13 additional weeks of TEUC-X (in high unemployment states).
9 [http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/teuc.asp].

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trigger off TEUC-X if that state’s IUR has fallen below 4%. If the state’s IUR remains
above 4% and continues to meet the 120% criterion, the state will continue to be
classified as a high-unemployment state for an additional 13 weeks. This classification
process proceeds in 13-week increments for the life of the TEUC program (currently
slated to cease accepting new TEUC claims on May 31, 2003).
TEUC-A and TEUC-AX. P.L. 108-11 was signed into law April 16, 2003, creating
a parallel TEUC program for displaced airline and airline related workers. This program
is based on the TEUC program and also has two tiers of benefits: TEUC-A and TEUC-
AX. TEUC-A provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualified individuals whose regular
UC claim was based in whole, or in part, on qualifying employment: for a certified air
carrier; at a facility at an airport; or with producer or supplier of products or services
provided directly to an air carrier.10 TEUC-AX provides up to an additional 13 weeks of
benefits to individuals who exhaust their TEUC-A benefits during a period when their
state is classified as a high unemployment state, as defined under the TEUC-X program
(see above). The TEUC-A program is currently slated to accept new claims through the
week ending December 29, 2003. TEUC-A benefits will then be phased out through the
week ending December 26, 2004. During the phase out period those individuals who had
existing TEUC-A claims as of the week of December 29, 2003 will be able to finish out
their TEUC-A or TEUC-AX entitlements. Individuals exhausting their TEUC-A benefits
in a high-unemployment state during the phase out period will not receive TEUC-AX
benefits.
Legislative Developments in the 108th Congress
Several bills have been introduced in the 108th Congress that would modify the
TEUC program. These proposed modifications can be classified into two general
categories: (1) proposals to extend the program; and (2) proposals to expand the program.
Proposals that would extend the program include: (1) extending the entire program by
changing the end date; (2) implementing/extending the phaseout period; or (3) extending
only the TEUC-X portion of the TEUC program in high-unemployment states. Proposals
to expand the program include: (1) providing additional weeks of benefits; (2)
implementing alternative trigger mechanisms designed to potentially qualify more states
classified as high-unemployment states; or (3) creating new or additional groups of
eligible individuals. In addition, to extending or expanding benefits some bills provide
benefits retroactively to workers who continue to be unemployed. All bills listed below
have been referred to either the House Committee on Ways and Means, Human Resources
Subcommittee; or the Senate Committee on Finance. No further action has been taken
unless noted in the discussion below.
On January 8, 2003, S. 23 (P.L. 108-1) was signed into law, extending the TEUC
program through the week ending May 31, 2003, and including a gradual phaseout period
through August 30, 2003. Those with existing TEUC or TEUC-X claims as of May 31,
2003, will be able to receive the remainder of their entitlement through the week ending
August 30, 2003. No new TEUC claims will be accepted after May 31, 2003. P.L. 108-1
10 U.S. Department of Labor, Special Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation for
Di splaced Ai rline Related Workers . Accessed A p r i l 2 3 , 2003 at
[http://www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/factsheetteuc_a.asp].

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does not provide additional weeks of benefits to individuals once they have exhausted
their initial TEUC entitlement.
Several other bills containing provisions to extend or expand the TEUC program
were introduced on January 7, 2003 (H.R. 17, S. 35, H.R. 162, H.R. 209, H.R. 228).
H.R. 17 would: extend the program through the week ending June 28, 2003, with a
phaseout period through December 31, 2003; augment the first tier of TEUC benefits by
providing 26 weeks of benefits to all individuals eligible for TEUC; and reduce the
amount of TEUC-X benefits in high-unemployment states from 13 weeks to 7 weeks.
H.R. 17 also proposes two additional triggers: an adjusted insured unemployment rate
(AIUR) trigger; and a total unemployment rate (TUR) trigger that would apply to all states
(including states that do not currently have the TUR trigger included in state law).11
S. 35 would: extend the TEUC program to May 31, 2003, with a phaseout period
through December 31, 2003; and provide 26 weeks of benefits to all individuals eligible
for TEUC. H.R. 162 would provide all TEUC recipients who exhaust either (or both)
their TEUC or TEUC-X benefits with another allotment of benefits equal to their original
TEUC entitlement, and would extend the program to January 1, 2004. H.R. 209 would
extend the TEUC program through April 1, 2003. H.R. 228 would extend the program
to April 1, 2003, and proposes a new TUR trigger that would allow states to trigger on to
TEUC-X if the state’s seasonally adjusted average TUR for fiscal year 2002 exceeds the
seasonally adjusted average TUR in all states for the same period. S. 106 would extend
the TEUC program to July 1, 2003 and proposes a phaseout period through the week
ending September 27, 2003.
On January 22, 2003, Senate Amendment Number 40 to House Joint Resolution
2 was proposed and ruled out of order on a motion to waive provisions of the
Congressional Budget Act. S.Amdt. 40 would have: provided 26 weeks of benefits to all
TEUC beneficiaries; reduced the TEUC-X entitlement from 13 weeks to 7 weeks;
extended the program through the week ending August 30, 2003; and implemented a
phaseout period through the week ending December 31, 2003. Also, S. Amdt. 40 would
have allowed individuals who exhausted their initial TEUC claim during the phaseout
period, in a high-unemployment state to receive TEUC-X benefits.
H.R. 396 would provide up to 26 weeks of TEUC, and would extend the program
through the week of November 29, 2003. S. 225 would: provide up to 26 weeks of TEUC
benefits; reduce TEUC-X benefits to 7 weeks; extend the phaseout period through the
week ending December 31, 2003; and allow those eligible individuals in a high
unemployment state exhausting their TEUC benefits during the phaseout period to receive
TEUC-X. S. 225 was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar, under general orders,
11 The AIUR is calculated by adding the 13-week average number of insured unemployed, plus
the number of exhaustees for the 3 most recent completed months, divided by the number of
individuals in covered employment. The AIUR, because it includes exhaustees in the
numerator, would thus be higher than the IUR, and could potentially allow more states to
trigger on to TEUC-X. The TUR is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed by the
civilian labor force. For additional discussion on various “triggers” used in temporary extended
unemployment programs, see CRS Report RL31277, Temporary Programs to Extend
Unemployment Compensation, by Jennifer E. Lake.

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January 29, 2003. S. 270 would: provide up to 26 weeks of TEUC benefits; allow
individuals who exhaust their TEUC entitlement during the phaseout period to receive
TEUC-X; and extend the phaseout period to the week ending December 31, 2003. H.R.
682 would provide an additional six weeks of TEUC benefits to individuals who had
exhausted their TEUC benefits before December 29, 2002. H.R. 682 proposes an AIUR
trigger for TEUC-X benefits (see footnote 10), and would extend the program through the
week ending December 28, 2003, with a phaseout through the week ending March 27,
2004. S. 414 would provide up to 26 weeks of TEUC benefits; extend the phaseout
period through the week ending December 31, 2003; reduce TEUC-X benefits to 7 weeks;
and allow individuals in a high unemployment state who exhaust their TEUC entitlement
during the phaseout period to receive TEUC-X. S. 414 was placed on the Senate
Legislative Calendar, under general orders, February 24, 2003. H.R. 1239 would: provide
up to 26 weeks of TEUC benefits; reduce TEUC-X benefits to 7 weeks; extend the
phaseout period from the week ending August 31, 2003, to the week of December 27,
2003; and allow individuals who exhaust their initial TEUC claim in a high-
unemployment state during the phaseout period to receive TEUC-X benefits.
H.R. 1559, the Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense
Operations in Iraq, for FY2003, contained provisions for additional weeks of benefits to
certain qualified individuals in the airline or airline related industries. H.R. 1559 was
signed into law April 16, 2003 (P.L. 108-11). P.L. 108-11 creates a parallel program to
the TEUC program called TEUC-A (see above for details). S. 762 and H.R. 1553
contained identical provisions regarding TEUC benefits for airline workers.
H.R. 1652 would: extend the TEUC program through the week ending December
1, 2003 with a phaseout period through the week ending July 31, 2004; provide 26 weeks
of benefits to all TEUC recipients, reduce TEUC-X benefits to 7 weeks; implement an
AIUR trigger for TEUC-X benefits; implement a new TUR trigger for TEUC-X benefits
where a state could be classified a high-unemployment state if their seasonally adjusted
TUR for the most recent 3 months is 6% or greater and if the current 3 month seasonally
adjusted TUR is 110% of the same period in either or both of the last two years. S. 923
would: provide up to 26 weeks of TEUC benefits; reduce TEUC-X benefits to 7 weeks;
extend the program through the week ending November 31, 2003, with a phaseout period
through the week ending February 28, 2004; and allow individuals who exhaust their
TEUC benefits during the phaseout period to receive TEUC-X. H.R. 2046 includes
provisions similar to H.R. 1652 for extending and expanding the TEUC and TEUC-X
programs. H.R. 2111 would extend the TEUC program through September 27, 2003,
with a phaseout period through December 27, 2003, and provide an alternative trigger that
used a seasonally adjusted TUR for fiscal year 2002. H.R. 2185 would extend the TEUC
program through December 31, 2003, with a phaseout period through March 31, 2004.
S. 1079 would extend the TEUC program through November 30, 2003, with a phaseout
period through February 28, 2004. H.R. 2188 would also extend TEUC through
November 30, 2003, with a phaseout period through February 28, 2004, and would
provide 8 additional weeks of TEUC benefits for individuals who had exhausted their
TEUC benefits.
On May 22, 2003, the House passed H.R. 2185. The Senate unanimously passed the
bill on May 23. The President signed the bill into law on May 28, 2003 (P.L. 108-26).