Senate moves to cut back unemployment benefits

Those who receive unemployment benefits may soon lose that safety net much sooner under a bill approved by the Alabama State Senate Thursday.

The Senate approved a bill that would reduce the number of weeks someone can draw unemployment compensation by nearly half under current economic situations.

Under existing law, those who are unemployed can receive unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks.

The bill approved Thursday would cut that normal maximum back to 14 weeks if the state maintains a low unemployment rate, though the system is flexible depending on the average state unemployment rate and the rate in the county where the individual lives.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, the bill’s sponsor, said the move will bring Alabama in line with other Southeastern states that have recently adjusted the way unemployment compensation programs in their states are handled and could offer an “incentive” for unemployed workers to get back in the workforce sooner.

Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/2018/01/26/senate-moves-cut-back-unemployment-benefits/