Extension of unemployment benefits being considered

10.29.09
By Nicholas Storie

Trying to deal with debt management may be difficult enough when someone has a job, let alone when they are unemployed.

However, members of the Senate have started to consider a measure that would extend unemployment benefits for people across the country, many of whom are struggling with a variety of debt.

Under the proposed plan in the Senate, people in every state could have their unemployment benefits extended by 14 weeks. Those who live in states with an unemployment rate of at least 8.5 percent would get an additional 6 weeks, marking a total of 20 additional weeks of unemployment protection.

The White House gave its support to extending unemployment benefits, noting that helping unemployed people is also a way to aid the economy.

"Millions of Americans want employment but cannot find it, and the administration is committed to supporting these Americans as they look for work and struggle to raise their families and pay their bills," a policy statement from the Obama administration said.

As people continue to struggle with finding debt relief, a recent poll from the Conference Board shows that consumers aren't feeling that positive about future job prospects. Of respondents to the poll, which was taken in October, only 16.3 percent said they expect job growth in the coming months.

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Members of the Senate are thinking of extending benefits for unemployment.