36,000 Texans to Lose Federal Unemployment this Saturday, May 12th

Courtesy of: www.sweetwatertxnews.blogspot.com
Content Provided by: Center for Public Policy Priorities/ CPPP

Texas is among eight other states getting hit by cuts to the federal unemployment insurance program on Saturday.

Nearly 36,000 Texans will be cut off from federal UI tomorrow, leaving more Texas families without needed assistance while the economy recovers.

Congress’ February extension of the federal UI programs cut jobless benefits for long-term unemployed workers in Texas by 13 weeks.

Even with the recent drop in the state’s unemployment rate, unemployment remains high at 7 percent, nearly 50 percent higher than when the recession began.

Of Texans receiving UI benefits, the majority—62 percent or 393,000 UI claimants—were out of work for six months or longer during the last half of 2011.

Texas families will continue to struggle as federal benefits continue to shrink through the end of 2012.

The UI federal programs have injected more than $10 billion into the Texas economy since the programs began in July 2008.

With the extended support from UI, families continue to pay their bills and spend their dollars at local businesses while they look for jobs.

Texas needs good jobs and strong reemployment programs that provide education and training to put more Texans back to work in family supporting careers.
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