Blog: The Fine Print

Unemployment Benefits Keep Families in their Homes

by Jessica Schieder, 8/8/2014

Revenue & Spending, Unemployment Insurance, Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), Homelessness, Financial Security

For breadwinners struggling to find work, unemployment insurance acts as a backstop against the worst financial devastation. A new study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that in states where unemployment compensation was more generous and extended benefits were available for a longer period of time, homeowners were less likely to be behind on their mortgages and lose their homes.

The benefits available to unemployed Americans vary significantly from state to state, but, for families down on their luck, the money is often only enough to pay the most pressing bills. On average, unemployed workers receive about $300 a week. Families continue to pay their mortgages but energy bills fall by the wayside; gas to travel to interviews is purchased but pantries are hollowed out.  

Below are a handful of stories from unemployed Americans who are losing their homes, which the Center for Effective Government has received in the past two weeks:

  • “Right now we are facing foreclosure, no medical or dental insurance, shut off notices of all utilities, and I am not sure how much longer I will still be able to buy groceries.”- Kirstie in Delanco, New Jersey

  • “I am a 63 year old man. [I have] lost my home, my car, and I sit here losing everything […] Representatives have the power to stop the foreclosures and save homes, cars, etc.” – Jo in Baraboo, Wisconsin

  • “Foreclosure, loss of our car, no insurance, no utilities and necessities, and homelessness are all disasters we face immediately if no extended benefits with retroactive weeks are approved. The retroactive payments would not sit in a savings account, but [they] would be used to pay the mortgage company, the car payment, and to keep the electricity on.” - Laurie in Port Saint Lucie, Florida

 

Despite the desperate situation that more than 3 million long-term unemployed Americans are facing, Congress has left town for its five-week summer recess. While representatives are in their home districts, the voices of the unemployed need to be heard. Ask representatives what they’ve done to support the renewal of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC).

 

Utilize the following tools to make sure representatives hear your voice:

 

 

For Further Reading

Witness Wednesdays: Stories of the Long-Term Unemployed to Be Read on Capitol Hill, The Fine Print blog, June 10, 2014

What is this Country about Anymore?, OtherWords op-ed, July 2, 2014

Bipartisan Unemployment Benefits Bills in Both Houses, The Fine Print blog, July 2, 2014

Highway Trust Fund Temporarily Saved, Unemployed Still Waiting on EUC, The Fine Print blog, July 18, 2014

Unemployment Insurance: A 79-Year Old Promise to American Workers That Needs Renewing, The Fine Print blog, Aug. 14, 2014

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Submitted by Tired in Texas (TNT) (not verified) on 08/08/14
Thank you CFEG and Jessica for keeping EUC and the unemployment issue in the news!
Submitted by Tired in Texas (TNT) (not verified) on 08/08/14
The politicians are failing to see the big picture on refusing to extend EUC. The economy will continue to suffer because billions of dollars are not being spent by the unemployed in the economy. Also, it is a far reaching financial crisis when millions lose their homes due to foreclosures!
Submitted by Articulate and Clean (not verified) on 08/08/14
euc is buh bye for 2014 and beyond. the program wasted a lot money for the last 6 years and everyone KNOWS that now. work time!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 08/08/14
OK look Sebastian Klay is here to spread his stupidity and hate speech. Articulate and Clean is one of his aliases. As is Chad Hatten Houston, Wayne Heiddinger, Valerie Blanck, C Unit, Mr_Man0, Marcus Maxon, Cynthia Dobbins, Steve, Alan, left wing, Proud UI User, "guest", Cool Change, and many others. Please ignore this troll. He does nothing but engage in hate speech. Every time an article is published about EUC he pops up in the comments section to say ugly, racist, homophobic, hateful things. He has even gone as far to insult an LTU with cancer and a US Army vet. He is lower than the dregs of society. Please do not respond to him, he will only continue to verbally abuse the LTU and interacting with him makes it worse.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 08/08/14
Articulate and clean Get your stupid A--off of this blog, you are Going to be unemployed next. Mark your Calendar. See how articulate you will be then.
Submitted by Tired in Texas (TNT) (not verified) on 08/08/14
Learning and Finance 8-7-14 EUC 2014 COULD TURN INTO EUC 2015; WILL CONGRESS MAKE A PUSH TO PASS EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR AMERICA’S LONG TERM JOBLESS It has been approximately eight months since Congress initially allowed unemployment benefits to expire for over a million Americans. Since that time, the number of long term jobless without benefits has climbed to well over 3 million. The long term unemployment crisis is tragic, and the most recent monthly jobs report did little to promote optimism regarding the U.S. job market. The unemployment rate ticked higher again from 6.1 percent to 6.2 percent last month and the number of job additions was far below that of the month prior. The data does not bode well for the argument that the economic recovery process will soon absorb the majority of the long term jobless back into the workforce. The July jobs report was unsettling for many, but it still appears that Congress has become more apathetic regarding the process of extending unemployment benefits for America’s long term jobless. Prior to the current summer recess, which is scheduled to last into September, lawmakers had their hands full of agenda items that were not related to emergency unemployment compensation. Lawmakers worked overtime leading into their “break” to pass legislation linked to immigration and deportation, but did not feel it necessary to link unemployment legislation to these deals. Upon their return, interest and focus will quickly turn to the upcoming mid-term elections. The push to pass another unemployment benefit extension in 2014 may slowly morph into a push to pass another unemployment benefits extension in 2015.
Submitted by EUC JUST A DREAM! (not verified) on 08/09/14
MY PREDICTION IS THEY WILL ONCE AGAIN DO THE BAIT AND SWITCH TACTIC ON ALL UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE BY ALL OF A SUDDEN TO THEIR CONVENIENCE START THE EUC DRUM ROLL AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER TO BRIBE, BUY, FOOL THE UNEMPLOYED TO VOTE FOR THEM AGAIN IN NOVEMBER! THEY WILL PROBABLY DO SOME KIND OF CRUMBS FOR EUC TO GET OUR VOTE ON BOTH SIDES! AND ONLY BECAUSE IT'S AN ELECTION OR RE ELECTION YEAR, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ON BOTH SIDES TO HELP THE CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED! THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LIERS AND DECEIVERS, WITH THEIR PHONY TACTICS. DO NOT FALL FOR IT! VOTE THEM OUT ANYWAYS! IF THEY DO NOTHING AT ALL, THEN EUC IS DEFINITELY DEAD IN THE WATER FOR GOOD! LET'S SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE NEXT 3 MONTHS OR SO. GOOD LUCK TO ALL, BUT DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH!
Submitted by GRIM REAPER NEE... (not verified) on 08/15/14
euc! euc! euc!NOW!!! no euc! no peace!! we want euc!!! can't you see! we want a shopping spree!! and we want it for free!!! with no fee! then we will be full of glee! so me and lee can flee a bee and say gee, he almost stung me on my knee! and made me pee can't you see the wee on the tee? hee hee hee!!!!!
Submitted by Tired in Texas (TNT) (not verified) on 08/15/14
EUC family: A new unemployment article, written about unemployment yesterday by Jessica Schieder, on the Center For Effective Government! See you on the newest blog!
Submitted by chad hatten houston (not verified) on 08/18/14
you are all correct in your view that there will be no new euc
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