2011-30583. Notice of a Change in Status of the Payable Periods in the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) Program for Indiana, the Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming

AGENCY:

Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Announcement regarding Notice of a Change in Status of the payable periods in the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) program for Indiana, the Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Public law 111-312 extended provisions in public law 111-92 which amended prior laws to create a Third and Fourth Tier of benefits within the EUC08 program for qualified unemployed workers claiming benefits in high unemployment states. The Department of Labor produces a trigger notice indicating which states qualify for EUC08 benefits within Tiers Three and Four and provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying state. The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EUC08 program can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/​unemploy/​claims_​arch.asp.

• Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 16, 2011, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Indiana rose to meet the 8.5% threshold to trigger “on” in Tier Four of the EUC08 program. The payable period for Indiana in Tier Four of EUC began October 9.
• Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on October 7, 2011, the estimated three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for the Virgin Islands rose to exceed the 8.5% threshold to trigger “on” in Tier Four of the EUC08 program. The payable period for the Virgin Islands in Tier Four of EUC began October 23. As a result, the maximum potential duration of 47 weeks will increase to a maximum potential duration of 53 weeks in the EUC08 program.
• Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 19, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for West Virginia fell below the 8.5% threshold to remain “on” in Tier Four of the EUC08 program. The week ending September 10, 2011 was the last week in which EUC claimants in West Virginia could exhaust Tier 3, and establish Tier Four eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants who were in Tier Four can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier Four after September 10, 2011; for all other claimants the maximum potential duration is 47 weeks in the EUC08 program.
• Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on August 19, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Wyoming fell below the 6.0% threshold to remain “on” in Tier Three of the EUC08 program. The week ending September 10, 2011 was the last week in which EUC claimants in Wyoming could exhaust Tier Two, and establish Tier Three eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants who were in Tier Three can receive any remaining entitlement they had in Tier Three after September 10, 2011; for all other claimants the maximum potential duration is 34 weeks in the EUC08 program.

Information for Claimants

The duration of benefits payable in the EUC program, and the terms and conditions under which they are payable, are governed by Public Laws 110-252, 110-449, 111-5, 111-92, 111-118, 111-144, 111-157, 111-205 and 111-312, and the operating instructions issued to the states by the U.S. Department of Labor. Persons who believe they may be entitled to additional benefits under the EUC08 program, 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 [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or by email: [e-mail].

Signed in Washington, DC, this 16th day of November, 2011.

Jane Oates,

Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.