[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35061-35062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14174]


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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 March 30, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total 
unemployment rate in Connecticut fell below the 8.0% rate required to 
remain ``on'' in a high unemployment period (HUP) within the EB 
program. Claimants in this state were eligible for up to 20 weeks of 
benefits through April 21, 2012, but starting April 22, 2012, the 
maximum potential entitlement in the EB program for this state 
decreased from 20 weeks to 13 weeks.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on March 30, 2012, as well as revisions to prior year data released on 
February 29, 2012, Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, and 
Washington 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 triggered these 
states ``off'' EB and the end of the payable period for these states in 
the EB program was the week ending April 21, 2012.
     Although some states have triggered ``off'' of EB, they 
are currently triggered ``on'' to Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. Under 
Public Law 112-96, new Tier 4 claimants in states that are triggered

[[Page 35062]]

``off'' in the EB program, but are triggered ``on'' in Tier 4 of the 
EUC08 program, may be eligible for augmentation from a maximum 
potential duration of 6 weeks to a maximum potential duration of 16 
weeks for a limited period of time. Details on this potential benefit 
augmentation can be found at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/corr_doc.cfm?DOCN=5271 starting at the bottom of Page 4. States that were 
affected by this provision were Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, 
Mississippi, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and Tennessee. In 
addition, Georgia and Indiana were eligible to provide for up to 16 
weeks of Tier 4 benefits for new Tier 4 claimants starting April 22.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on March 30, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total 
unemployment rate for Virginia 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 decreased from 
47 weeks to 34 weeks. The week ending April 21, 2012 was the last week 
in which EUC08 claimants in this state could 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 April 21, 2012.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on March 30, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted total 
unemployment rates for Tennessee and Washington fell below the 
threshold to remain ``on'' in Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. As a result, 
the current maximum potential entitlement in these states for the EUC08 
program decreased from 53 weeks to 47 weeks. The week ending April 21, 
2012 was the last week in which EUC08 claimants in these states could 
exhaust Tier 3, and establish Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out 
provisions, claimants in these states can receive any remaining 
entitlement they have in Tier 4 after April 21, 2012.

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. 2012-14174 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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