ONEONTA - The Chenango-Delaware-Otsego Workforce Investment Board has issued a fact sheet about benefits in the federal stimulus plan for unemployed workers.
“If you are unemployed and receiving unemployment insurance benefit payments, some or all of these benefits may help you now,” said CDOW Executive Director Kevin Price.
Claim period for extended benefits lengthened
Currently, New Yorkers are eligible to receive 26 weeks of regular unemployment insurance plus an additional 33 weeks of extended benefits. New claims for extended unemployment benefits can now be made through the week ending December 27, 2009, with benefits payable through the week ending May 30, 2010. Previously, the deadline to apply for extended benefits was March 31, 2009, and no payments could be made after August 2009. For more information, go to www.labor.ny.gov or call: 1-888-581-5812 (out of state 1-888-864-9920).
Additional $25 per week
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides an additional $25 weekly payment to unemployment recipients. These payments will be retroactive to the week ending March 1, 2009. The last week these additional monies can be paid is July 4, 2010. This applies to those collecting both regular and extended unemployment benefits.
No federal tax due on first $2,400 in unemployment
You will not have to pay federal income taxes on your first $2,400 of unemployment insurance benefits for 2009. However, any unemployment benefits over $2,400 that you receive in 2009 will be subject to federal in- come tax. This provision of the federal stimulus plan is expected to save each person receiving unemployment insurance an estimated $215 in federal income taxes for tax year 2009.
COBRA subsidy available
The federal plan will pay 65 percent of your health insurance premium under COBRA for up to nine months. This provision can help you if you lost your job on or after September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. You will be notified by your employer or health plan of your option to purchase health insurance coverage under COBRA. There will be a deadline for enrollment. You pay 35 percent of the premium cost, and the federal government pays the other 65 percent directly to the health care plan. For more information, go to the U.S. Department of Labor’s web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html. Or, call the Us Department of Labor at 1-866-444-3272 (toll-free).
Benefits for those out of work due to foreign competition
If you are out of work because your job was off-shored or outsourced to another country, you maybe eligible for expanded training, health care and
re-employment benefits under Trade Adjustment Assistance programs. To find out more, check with your local One-stop Career Center.
More funds for job training
The federal stimulus plan provides more funds to states and local areas for job training. Career counselors at your local One-stop Career Center can help you determine if job training can improve your skills and help you find employment. The Norwich-based One-stop Career Center is located at 1 O’Hara Drive.
Additional state funding
for services to unemployed workers
The federal stimulus plan will provide additional administrative funds to help New York improve unemployment claims processing by adding staff to take calls and resolve claims. Our Tel-Claims Centers, which handle calls from unemployment insurance claimants, are open until 7 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most One-stop Career Centers have also expanded the hours they are open. Federal stimulus plan funds will also be used to improve the shared work program, which gives employers an alternative to layoffs. For more information on the shared work program, see our web site at www.labor.ny.gov or call us at (518) 457-5807.
Other programs
The federal stimulus plan expands eligibility for other programs, such as the supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) and child care support. For more information on food stamps, go the web site of the Office of temporary and Disability Assistance at www.otda.state.ny.us/main/foodstamps or call 1-800-342-3009 (press “1” for food stamps).