90,000 Californians to lose unemployment pay in May

Source: Orange County Register

California’s longest-term unemployed — as many as 93,000 — will see a cutoff in jobless benefits in mid-May because the state no longer meets the federal threshold for emergency aid. Those losing their benefits are on so-called Fed-Ed, the last tier of extended unemployment benefits. Fed-Ed currently provides 20 weeks of jobless pay.

State eligibility for federal funds to pay the benefits is based on a complicated formula that compares the average unemployment rate for the last three months to the rate over the last three years.

The current rate must be 110% higher than the same period in the previous three years. Even though California’s unemployment rate actually edged up to 11% in March — third highest in the country — it was only 108% higher than the rate in the three previous years.

As a result, anybody collecting Fed-Ed will be cut off after May 12. After that date, most unemployed will be eligible only for 79 weeks of benefits instead of the current 99.

Read more: http://economy.ocregister.com/2012/04/24/90000-californians-to-lose-unemployment-pay-in-may/107667/

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I'm one of those about to lose these benefits, and with no prospect for work on the horizon. Funny, but as CA's unemployment picture has (supposedly) gotten better, I have found myself having fewer and fewer actual interviews when compared to 6 months or even a year ago. An interview isn't a job, but one hopes that it's a chance at a job. These days, even the chances aren't materializing.