[tssg-tech] Fwd: Unemployment insurance info, phone #s

From: Robert Mallory <robertsmallory@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tssg-tech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 23:30:28 -0400
A couple of questions came up at the beginning of our TSSG meeting a week
ago and here are some responses that address them.

1) Here are some phone #s for DUA that were given to me and that I have
found useful, especially the "adjudication" #.  The people at these #s are
typically more courteous and helpful then at the main phone # that appears
on the web page you use to file for your benefits online.

Adjudication Unit:      (617) 626-5858
Problem Resolution:   (617) 626-5400
 Check Status:           (617) 626-6563

2) On another topic, I had researched in the past the issue about having
some earnings while you are on uneployment in Mass. and found an
informative web page on the Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD)
website.  It gives a good explanation of the potential impact to your UI
benefits.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&L2=Unemployment+Insurance+(UI)&L3=How+to+File+Weekly+Claim&sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dua_weekly_claim_working_part_time&csid=Elwd

3) Also, there is an explanation and web page below regarding when
unemployment benefits are expected to run out in 2012.

Regards.
Scott


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Robert Mallory <robertsmallory@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 5:14 PM
Subject: Re: Unemployment insurance
To: Bruce Lorge <brucemlorge@xxxxxxxxx>


Interesting question.  The quick answer is that a person is currently
eligible for 86 weeks of state + EUC + EB payments.  It used to be 99 weeks
but 13 have been lopped off.  Explanation below.

First off, the following DUA webpage gives a good summary.
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Claimants&L2=Unemployment+Insurance+%28UI%29&L3=Information+on+Unemployment+Insurance+Extensions&sid=Elwd&b=terminalcontent&f=dua_extensions_overview_7_10&csid=Elwd

There, it explains that beyond the 26 weeks of state benefits we all get,
there are 4 tiers of EUC (emergency unemployment compensation) to be
followed by EB.  They had added up as follows (before the unempl. rate
dropped below 8%):
EUC Tier 1  = 20 weeks
         Tier 2  = 14 weeks
         Tier 3  = 13 weeks
         Tier 4  =   6 weeks  (now gone)
EB               = 20 weeks  (now reduced to 13 weeks)

These all added up to 73 weeks of unemployment beyond the 26 weeks of state
benefits.  However, because the unemployment rate has slowly declined in
Mass to now being under 8%, this has resulted in Tier 4 going away and 7
weeks to be removed from EB.  Taking these 13 weeks away means that one is
currently only eligible for 60 weeks of EUC and EB.  Adding this to the 26
weeks of state benefits gives the answer that one is eligible for 86 weeks
in total, not the 82 you indicated.

Something doesn't add up with the figures you give in your email.  You say
your friend "runs out next week", and that 82 weeks should take her into
Feb '12.  If she were running out of EUC, and just needed to file for EB,
that would only take her out 13 weeks, which would be about Dec. 10, 2011.
It almost sounds like she should be filing for Tier 3, which would take her
to Dec and then file for EB which would take her into Feb or March.
THOUGH, one big gotcha here.  On the web page, it notes that EB benefits
will only be payable through 1/28/2012, whether you have received any or
part of the 13 weeks of EB or not.

Actually, which Tier are you in ?  Since she was laid off the same time as
you, she should match you Tier for Tier.

Sorry to be so long-winded.  Hopefully, this helped.  If I need to be
clearer, let me know.

Sorry to hear about the jobs.  That is very frustrating.  I had the same
experience with a position at eClinicalWorks that I applied for.  Sometimes
you wonder if these are just fishing expeditions that these companies are
going on.  Though to be fair, they may still be gun-shy and want to be sure
the economy is turning around before they commit.  Doesn't help us much.
Your National Grid job is still open though, right ?

Scott


On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 3:45 PM, Bruce Lorge <brucemlorge@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi Scott,
>
> Does unemployment insurance currently run for 82 weeks?  I friend of mine
> from work who got laid off the same time I did said she runs out
> of unemployment insurance next week.  That didn't sound right, and 82 weeks
> would take us into February '12.  She probably needs to file for extended
> benefits.
>
> One of the positions I applied for several weeks ago was at Philips
> Healthcare.  I was just notified today the job has been placed on hold.
> That's the 4th job that I applied for over the past 1-1/2 months that has
> either been withdrawn or put on hold.  Very frustrating!!!!
>
> Please confirm UI is 82 weeks.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bruce
>



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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/robertscottmallory



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[tssg-tech] Fwd: Unemployment insurance info, phone #s

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