Unemployment Benefits Running Out for 1.5 Million People

August 2, 2009 (LPAC)—Even the one-third of the unemployed receiving unemployment checks are rapidly exhausting them. Of the 9 million Americans now receiving unemployment compensation, half a million will have used up their benefits by the end of September, and 1.5 million by the end of the year, according to the National Employment Law Project.

For many, this has been their last bulwark against foreclosure and destitution.

Because of emergency extensions already enacted by Congress, laid-off workers can collect benefits averaging $300 per week for up to 79 weeks in 24 states and from 46 to 72 weeks in others, depending on state unemployment rates.

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) said he would introduce a bill in September to provide yet another 13 weeks of coverage in states with unemployment rates of 9% or higher. "Legislators will line up quickly when they start getting calls from desperate constituents," he said.