Notice of a Change in Status of an Extended Benefit (EB) Period for New York and Maryland

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility under the EB program for New York and Maryland.

The following changes have occurred since the publication of the last notice regarding the States EB status:

• Based on the data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 16, 2011, the seasonally-adjusted total unemployment rate for New York rose to meet the 8.0% threshold to trigger “on” to a high unemployment period (HUP) in EB. The payable period for New York in HUP began October 10 and eligibility for claimants has been increased from a maximum potential duration of 13 weeks to a maximum potential duration of 20 weeks in the EB program.
• Maryland enacted a retroactive TUR trigger and a three year look-back for the EB program, which became effective October 1, 2011. This trigger is retroactive to January 2, 2010, and anyone exhausting EUC benefits since that point is potentially eligible for benefits. The payable period in Maryland for these benefits began October 2.

The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EB program can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp.

Information for Claimants

The duration of benefits payable in the EB program, and the terms and conditions on which they are payable, are governed by the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, as amended, and the operating instructions issued to the states by the U.S. Department of Labor. In the case of a state beginning an EB period, the State Workforce Agency will furnish a written notice of potential entitlement to each individual who has exhausted all rights to regular benefits and is potentially eligible for EB (20 CFR 615.13 (c) (1)).

Persons who believe they may be entitled to EB, or who wish to inquire about their rights under the program, should contact their State Workforce Agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Scott Gibbons, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Frances Perkins Bldg. Room S-4524, Washington, DC 20210, telephone number (202) 693-3008 (this is not a toll-free number) or by email: gibbons.scott@dol.gov.