Unemployment benefits safety net is fraying

[radfringe]

Unemployment benefits safety net is fraying
As payments dry up, almost half of 11.6 million jobless don’t receive help
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29084715/
Sun., Feb. 8, 2009

The government safety net designed to protect laid-off workers from financial catastrophe is falling short, leaving nearly half the 11.6 million jobless Americans without unemployment benefits.

The shortcomings are fueling the recession as an increasing number of workers fall through the cracks and curtail spending. The trend highlights what economists say is a growing need for a 21st century makeover of a program started in the depths of the Great Depression.

Among the key problem areas:

-- There are many more part-time workers now than in 1935, but the program only covers those looking for full-time work.

-- Many eligible jobless Americans are shut out because states use an outdated system for calculating their income, making it more difficult to meet requirements.

-- Unemployment spells increasingly last longer than the usual 26-week jobless benefits program.

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few thoughts regarding unemployment:

1. If the repubs are serious about "cutting taxes", how about eliminating Reagan's tax on unemployment?

2. Currently, unemployment is funded through employers only. People collecting unemployment typically receive approx 60% of their former pay. Looking to the future - what if employees also paid into the fund? 1% of gross? and that would translate to a higher unemployment check 75% of former gross pay (which would approximately be equal to net take-home pay)

3. the other problem with being unemployed is HEALTHCARE - yeah, there's "cobra" - however the cobra payments are usually unaffordable for people collecting unemployment. Let them sign up for medicaide until we get a universal healthcare program going...