Deal trims maximum jobless benefits to 73 weeks

By Sam Hananel

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Feb. 17 2012 1:45 a.m. MST

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In this photo taken, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., left, joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Barrasso is a member of the House-Senate conference committee working on the extension of the payroll tax break that is also considering the Medicare physician reimbursement rate and an extension of unemployment benefits. .

J. Scott Applewhite, Associated Press

Summary

Long-term unemployed workers in states with persisting high joblessness would no longer be able to count on unemployment benefit checks for up to 99 weeks under legislation before Congress.

WASHINGTON — Long-term unemployed workers in states with persisting high joblessness would no longer be able to count on unemployment benefit checks for up to 99 weeks under legislation before Congress.

Under this week's compromise for extending a Social Security tax cut through the rest of 2012, federal unemployment benefits for people who have been out of work more than six months are being scaled back.

If Congress passes the bill Friday and President Barack Obama signs it into law, the current maximum 99 weeks of benefits will gradually fall to 73 weeks by September. For people in all but about a dozen of the highest unemployment states, the benefits will be cut off after 63 weeks.

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