[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65718-65719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26586]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Announcement Regarding States Triggering ``On'' and ``Off'' in 
the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) Program

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Announcement Regarding States Triggering ``on'' and ``off'' in 
the Emergency Unemployment Compensation 2008 (EUC08) Program.
    The U.S. Department of Labor (Department) produces trigger notices 
indicating which states qualify for EUC08 benefits, and provides the 
beginning and ending dates of payable periods for each qualifying 
state. The trigger notices covering state eligibility for this program 
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' EUC08 trigger status:
     With the week ending September 22, 2012, Utah had served a 
full 13 week ``off'' period in Tier 2 of the EUC08 program. Given that 
the trigger rate for Utah has been at the 6.0 percent trigger rate 
threshold, this state met the criteria to resume a payable period in 
Tier 2 of the EUC08 program. This payable period started with the week 
beginning September 23, 2012. For claimants establishing new 
eligibility in Tier 2, the maximum potential entitlement in Tier 2 is 
the lesser of 54 percent of the maximum regular Unemployment 
Compensation (UC) entitlement or 14 times the regular UC weekly benefit 
amount.
     With the week ending September 22, 2012, West Virginia and 
Wisconsin had both served a full 13 week ``off'' period in Tier 3 of 
the EUC08 program. Given that the trigger rate for these states had 
been at or above the 7.0 percent trigger rate threshold, these states 
met the criteria to resume a payable period in Tier 3 of the EUC08 
program. The payable period for these states started with the week 
beginning September 23, 2012. For claimants establishing new 
eligibility in Tier 3, the maximum potential entitlement in Tier 3 is 
the lesser of 35 percent of the maximum regular UC entitlement or 9 
times the regular UC weekly benefit amount.
     With the release of national unemployment data by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 21, 2012, the estimated three 
month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Maryland 
met the 7.0 percent threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' in Tier 3 of 
the EUC08 program. For claimants establishing new eligibility in Tier 
3, the maximum potential entitlement is the lesser of 35 percent of the 
maximum regular UC entitlement or 9 times the regular UC weekly benefit 
amount. The week beginning October 7, 2012, will be the first week in 
which EUC08 claimants in Maryland who have exhausted Tier 2, and are 
otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 3 eligibility.
     With the release of national unemployment data by the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics on September 21, 2012, the estimated three 
month average, seasonally adjusted total unemployment rate for Michigan 
met the 9.0 percent threshold necessary to trigger ``on'' in Tier 4 of 
the EUC08 program. For claimants establishing new eligibility in Tier 
4, the maximum potential entitlement in Tier 4 is the lesser of 24 
percent of the maximum regular UC entitlement or 6 times the regular UC 
weekly benefit amount. The week beginning October 7, 2012, will be the 
first week in which EUC08 claimants in Michigan who have exhausted Tier 
3, and are otherwise eligible, can establish Tier 4 eligibility.
     With the week ending October 6, 2012, Texas will have 
served a full 13 week ``off'' period in Tier 3 of the EUC08 program. 
Given that the trigger rate for Texas is currently at or above the 7.0 
percent trigger rate threshold, and no more unemployment rates will be 
released before October 19, 2012,

[[Page 65719]]

Texas will meet the criteria to resume a payable period in Tier 3 of 
the EUC08 program. This payable period will start with the week 
beginning October 7, 2012. For claimants establishing new eligibility 
in Tier 3, the maximum potential entitlement is the lesser of 35 
percent of the maximum regular UC entitlement or 9 times the regular UC 
weekly benefit amount.
     With the week ending October 6, 2012, Georgia and 
Mississippi will have served a full 13 week ``off'' period in Tier 4 of 
the EUC08 program. Given that the trigger rate for these states is 
currently at or above the 9.0 percent trigger rate threshold, and no 
more unemployment rates will be released before October 19, 2012, 
Georgia and Mississippi will meet the criteria to resume a payable 
period in Tier 4 of the EUC08 program. The payable period will start 
with the week beginning October 7, 2012. For claimants establishing new 
eligibility in Tier 4, the maximum potential entitlement in Tier 4 is 
the lesser of 24 percent of the maximum regular UC entitlement or 6 
times the regular UC weekly benefit amount.
     Based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
on September 21, 2012, the three month average, seasonally adjusted 
total unemployment rate for the District of Columbia fell below the 9.0 
percent trigger rate threshold to remain ``on'' in Tier 4 of the EUC08 
program. As a result, entitlement for claimants in the District of 
Columbia in the EUC08 program will decrease from a maximum possible 
duration of 47 weeks to a maximum possible duration of 37 weeks. The 
week ending October 13, 2012, will be the last week in which EUC 
claimants in the District of Columbia can exhaust Tier 3, and establish 
Tier 4 eligibility. Under the phase-out provisions, claimants can 
receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier 4 after October 13, 
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.
    In the case of a state beginning or concluding a payable period in 
EUC08, the State Workforce Agency will furnish a written notice of any 
change in potential entitlement to each individual who could establish, 
or had established, eligibility for benefits (20 CFR 615.13 (c)(1) and 
(c)(4)). Persons who believe they may be entitled to benefits under the 
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 17th day of October, 2012.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-26586 Filed 10-29-12; 8:45 am]
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