Report: 1.2 Million Workers Facing Potential Loss of Unemployment Benefits

A new report from the National Employment Law Project estimates that 1.2 million workers will lose unemployment benefits if Congress fails to pass an emergency extension by a November 30 cutoff date.

With the unemployment rate stuck above nine percent for more than 17 months, and five job seekers for every open job, the loss of these benefits would deal a devastating blow to families struggling to survive the Great Recession and further weaken the economy.

“Over one million workers will be cut off unemployment insurance in just one month, starting November 30th, unless Congress continues the federal emergency extensions for jobless Americans. These are people who have been laid off through no fault of their own and are desperately looking for jobs, but would be snapped from the lifeline of jobless benefits just as the holiday season kicks into high gear. Congress will have to act fast when it reconvenes to avoid a catastrophe. The clock is ticking,” said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project.

States facing the biggest losses are California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the report.

Opponents of extending unemployment benefits claim that workers are simply choosing to stay unemployed. However, with average weekly unemployment benefits of only $290, there is little incentive for workers to remain unemployed voluntarily.