Exact Answer: After 26 weeks
Unemployment benefits are also known as unemployment insurance and sometimes also known as unemployment compensation. It is financial help from the government to the unemployed. The unemployment benefits are only for those who registered themselves as unemployed.
Under this benefit or compensation, a temporary income will be given to the person depending on the amount of money that person was paid when he was in the job. It is funded by a state-federal program. Also, the particular worker needs to be an eligible worker to claim the unemployment benefits. To become eligible, one needs to pass some conditions and criteria.
How Long Do Unemployment Benefits Last?
| Time for which unemployment benefits last (in general) | 26 weeks |
| Time for which unemployment benefits last in Florida and North Carolina | 12 weeks |
| Time for which unemployment benefits last in Missouri | 13 weeks |
The number of unemployment benefits varies from country to country. In a country like the USA, the unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks funded by a state-funded program or we can say from the regular state-funded unemployment compensation program. Some conditions apply for unemployment benefits. The eligibility criteria are that if the person doesn’t have any fault for being unemployed, then the individual meets the eligibility criteria.
Although each state is running its policy. But, the theme of unemployment insurance is the same in every state. Due to the high unemployment rate in a particular state, the state authority of some states has extended the unemployment benefits to 13 weeks and also in some cases more. Also, the person needs to apply for the same and there should be a valid reason. In this process, a person needs to qualify for his extension. The state authority is equally important for the acceptance.
It is necessary to report unemployment compensation on the tax return to avoid taxation. It is because the unemployment benefit is a temporary income. Also, it is vital to note that while an individual is consuming the benefits he must try to get back to the job as soon as possible. In a particular survey, it is observed that in recent two years the unemployment rate has increased up to 13.3%. There is no doubt how important these unemployment compensations played in the lives of workers who lost their jobs due to various reasons.
Why Do Unemployment Benefits Last So Long?
The unemployment benefits or the unemployment compensation are given as temporary income. It is only for those people who lost their job due to some unexpected reason without their fault like the recession. This benefit acts as a backup when a particular person loses his job. Until and unless the person finds a new job, this compensation gives financial support to the individual. The state-federal government sponsors the program.
Also, these unemployment benefits help in maintaining the unemployment rates low. The unemployment benefits also encourage the workers to accept their duty to support the nation’s economy. It also motivates workers to find a job without any tension of survival. In a particular survey, the reports state that for every penny the government spends on unemployment benefits, they profit double the amount of money.
In 2010, the ideology of unemployment benefits removed 3.2 million American citizens from the unemployment and poverty situation. In the previous ten years, you can see a significant decrease in the unemployment rate in a country like the US. However, sometimes due to extraordinary situations, some deviations take place.
Also, this benefit helps in the recovery of many below poverty line people after the covid outbreaks. This insurance helps to pay the least amount of money to an individual. It helps the individual survive some worst situations like recession, war. So, it is clear that unemployment benefits not only help the unemployed workers but also help in boosting the economy of the nation in both direct and indirect ways.
Conclusion
Unemployment benefits are not just insurance or compensation. But, it also acts as a way of survival during many worst and unexpected situations. It helps in giving mental support to the workers who unfortunately lost their job without any fault. It plays an important role in the increment of a nation’s economy and decrease of the unemployment rate.
It is observed over some years that the amount of money that is invested in an unemployed worker is worth it. The nation’s economy is gaining some profit out of this. Hence, unemployment benefits help in improving both individual survival and the nation’s economy.