More than 22,000 Georgians receiving extended unemployment checks may lose them in May and June because Georgia legislators have not tweaked state law to match federal eligibility guidelines.
Tens of thousands more residents could lose the benefits by the end of the year, and time is running out in the General Assembly, which has only four working days left.
"If we don't take advantage of the extended benefits, which is 100 percent federal money, then those who are still unemployed will be dropped off and go down to zero income," said Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, who has been unable to get the issue attached to another piece of legislation.
"Those families will go down from a small unemployment check to no money at all."
And the local economy -- from local grocery stores to apartment complexes -- will no longer have the estimated $175 million in unemployment money flowing through them.
The federal government sent a letter to the state Department of Labor in December warning Georgia time was running out. The extended benefits, which average about $244 a week in the state, kick in for 20 weeks after a recipient has used up 79 weeks of unemployment.
Sam Hall, spokesman for Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, said Butler and his staff briefed legislative leaders and budget committees on the issue more than a month ago, but leaders such as Sen. Jack Hill, R-Reidsville, the head of Senate Appropriations, did not recall hearing about the issue until the last few days.
Gov. Nathan Deal called a meeting Tuesday to talk about it with department heads.
"It is a complex issue and the governor has some philosophical concerns about never-ending unemployment benefits. There has to be an end point," said Deal spokesman Brian Robinson. "A the same time, he has some concerns about a federal program being applied to everyone but Georgia."
States such as South Carolina have already made the fix.
Deal would not oppose legislation to make the change, Robinson said, but the governor will not push for it. That needs to come from legislators, Robinson said.
House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, is open to listening to members as to whether or not it should move forward, said his spokesman Marshall Guest.
Some legislators, such as Sen. Tim Golden, R-Valdosta , openly oppose the extension in part because it would cost Georgia money, estimates range from $1 million to $7 million a month in reimbursements, to pull down the unemployment checks.
Others, such as Sen. Ronnie Chance, R-Tyrone, said the change needs to happen, but it could be difficult with time running out and with no bill on the floor.
"We are looking for ways to get this done in the last few days of this session," Chance said.
About the Author
