September 05, 2003
September 4, 2003
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm announced today that the first of several thousand unemployment checks for additional federal benefits are being sent this week under the federal Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation second tier (TEUC-X) program. Granholm met with three unemployed workers receiving the benefits this afternoon.
In a private meeting, she listened to their concerns and underscored that her administration will continue to both support workers when times are tough and fight for new jobs for the future.
House Bill 4945 that authorizes the extended benefits was sponsored by Sen. Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor) and Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-Southgate). It passed both houses of the legislature with overwhelming bi-partisan support and was signed into law as Public Act 174 of 2003 by Granholm on August 14.
“These funds will extend unemployment benefits for our workers who are having difficulty finding a job during these tough economic times.” Granholm said. “This administration is committed to making sure that these workers are soon receiving checks from new employers. We are working hard to make sure that Michigan maintains its manufacturing backbone so we can build upon it by making our state a hub for high-tech, high-skill job growth.”
“I'm proud to join with Governor Granholm in our fight to make sure Michigan remains the leader in manufacturing jobs," said State Representative Barb Farrah (D-Southgate). "Working men and women deserve credit for making our state great. They have earned their unemployment benefits, and this extension will help our workers and their families who need our help the most.”
The temporary change to Michigan’s unemployment insurance (UI) law allows for the payment of up to 26 weeks and more than $206 million in additional jobless benefits to the state’s unemployed workers. The benefits are payable through the TEUC-X and Extended Benefits (EB) programs.
TEUC-X provides up to 13 additional weeks of federal jobless benefits to eligible workers who exhaust their first tier of TEUC benefits. The EB program provides up to 13 more weeks of combined federal and state-funded benefits.
Ordinarily, unemployed Michigan workers qualify for up to 26 weeks of state-funded benefits. However, in early 2002, the federal government began offering 13 weeks of TEUC benefits. The new Michigan law allows for the payment of both TEUC-X and EB.
Workers qualify for the TEUC-X benefits if they exhausted their first tier of TEUC after May 24, 2003. Extended benefits will go to those who exhaust their TEUC-X and/or have a benefit year ending after May 24, 2003.
The temporary changes to Michigan’s UI law will sunset on December 27, 2003.
The state mailed TEUC-X applications to some 53,000 potentially eligible workers August 18 and will soon begin mailing applications to those it has identified as being potentially eligible for EB.
The workers who met with Granholm today are:
Granholm was joined at the event by Rep. Barbara Farrah (D-Southgate); David Plawecki, Deputy Director for the Department of Consumer & Industry Services and who oversees the Bureau of Workers’ & Unemployment Compensation which administers the state’s UI program as well as the TEUC, TEUC-X and EB programs; and John B. O’Reilly, Executive Director of the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA).
