[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35062-35063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14172]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


 Announcement Regarding States Triggering ``Off'' in the 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 Program and the Federal-State 
Extended Benefits Program

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Announcement regarding states triggering ``off'' in the 
Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) Program and the 
Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB) Program.
    The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) produces trigger notices 
indicating which states qualify for both EB and EUC08 benefits, and 
provides the beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each 
qualifying state. The trigger notices covering state eligibility for 
these programs can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.asp.
    The following changes have occurred since the publication of the 
last notice regarding states' EB and EUC08 trigger status:
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on April 20, 2012, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, 
Illinois, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas no longer meet one of 
the criteria to remain ``on'' in EB, i.e., having their current three 
month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate be at least 
110% of one of the rates from a comparable period in one of the three 
prior years. This triggers these states ``off'' EB and the end of the 
payable period in the EB program for these states will be the week 
ending May 12, 2012.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on April 20, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total 
unemployment rate for Indiana fell below the threshold to remain ``on'' 
in Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. As a result, the current maximum 
potential entitlement in this state in the EUC08 program will decrease 
from 53 weeks to 47 weeks. The week ending May 12, 2012 will be the 
last week in which EUC claimants in this state can exhaust Tier 3, and 
establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants 
in this state can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 4 
after May 12, 2012.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on April 20, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total 
unemployment rate for Oklahoma fell below the threshold to remain 
``on'' in Tier 3 of the EUC08 program. As a result, the current maximum 
potential entitlement in this state in the EUC08 program will decrease 
from 47 weeks to 34 weeks. The week ending May 12, 2012 will be the 
last week in which EUC claimants in this state can exhaust Tier 2, and 
establish Tier 3 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants 
in this state can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 3 
after May 12, 2012.
     With data released for the 13 week period ending April 21, 
2012, Alaska's 13-week Insured Unemployment Rate (IUR) has fallen below 
the 6% threshold to remain ``on'' in EB and Tier 4 of EUC. This 
triggers Alaska ``off'' EB and the end of the payable period for this 
state in the EB program will be the week ending May 12, 2012. This same 
data also causes Alaska to fall below the threshold to remain ``on'' in 
Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. As a result, the current maximum potential 
entitlement in this state in the EUC08 program will decrease from 53 
weeks to 47 weeks. The week ending May 12, 2012 will be the last week 
in which EUC claimants in this state can exhaust Tier 3, and

[[Page 35063]]

establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants 
in this state can receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 4 
after May 12, 2012.
     Claimants in states that are triggered ``on'' to Tier 4 of 
the EUC08 program, but not triggered ``on'' to EB, may be eligible for 
augmentation of their Tier 4 entitlement from a maximum potential 
duration of 6 weeks to a maximum potential duration of 16 weeks. 
Details on this can be found at the bottom of the page for this link: 
http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=5271. States 
currently affected by this provision are Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, 
Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and South 
Carolina. States that will be eligible to provide for up to 16 weeks of 
Tier 4 benefits for new Tier 4 claimants starting May 13 are 
California, Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina.

Information for Claimants

    The duration of benefits payable in the EUC08 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, 111-312, 112-96, and the operating instructions issued to the 
states by the Department. The duration of benefits payable in the EB 
program, and the terms and conditions on which they are payable, are 
governed by the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 
1970, as amended, and the operating instructions issued to the states 
by the Department.
    In the case of a state concluding an EB period, the State Workforce 
Agency will furnish a written notice of any change in potential 
entitlement to each individual who had established eligibility for EB 
(20 CFR 615.13(c)(4)). Persons who believe they may be entitled to 
benefits under the EB or 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 (202) 693-3008 (this is 
not a toll-free number) or by email: [email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 5th day of June, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2012-14172 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P