10,800 Nevadans could lose jobless benefits without extension

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 | 11:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY – The failure of Congress to extend unemployment benefits will hit about 10,800 Nevadans, but the state is urging them to continue to file their claims.

Theresa Nicks, program chief in the state Division of Employment Security, says if and when Congress approves an extension, the state will be able to process the claims immediately. Nicks said those who lost their eligibility will be eligible for back payments.

There are four tiers of jobless benefits under the federal plan. A person in one of the tiers will continue to receive his or her checks until they expire their eligibility in that tier.

For instance, Tier 1 provides up to 20 weeks of additional benefits after the individual expires his 26 weeks of state benefits. If the person is in the sixth week of the first tier, he or she would continue to receive the 14 weeks.

But the person would not be able to move to the next tier.

Between federal and state programs, there are 99 weeks of benefits.

Nicks also said the failure of Congress to act means the Federal Additional Compensation of $25 per week to the checks will end on Dec. 11 on any claim.

About 65,000 people are now on some form of extended benefits in Nevada. If Congress does not extend these programs, more than half of those people will have exhausted their benefits by Jan 8.

Congress adjourns for the holiday on Dec. 18 and if a compromise is not reached, an additional 4,300 Nevadans each week will exhaust their benefits.