Unemployment Compensation Contemporary Issues

The most recent recession led to an unprecedented increase in the number of those unemployed for more than 26 weeks (the long-term unemployed). As a result, congressional interest in policy initiatives to expedite the return to work grew. This report examines a variety of initiatives and measures within the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program that might reduce long-term unemployment for beneficiaries with a focus on unemployment compensation insurance and military service; the eligibility for students under state and federal laws; receipt of unemployment insurance by higher-income unemployed workers (millionaires); the Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) program; consequences of changes in state unemployment compensation laws; the impact of the sequestration on unemployment insurance benefits; and the legislative issues in the 113th Congress relating to unemployment insurance.