Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Karla Davis, Commissioner

The Payroll Extension Bill package passed by Congress averts an end to emergency unemployment benefits set to expire on December 31. It provides another two months of existing federal unemployment benefits, but does not add additional weeks of benefits. Claimants should continue their weekly certification and do not need to contact the department or fill out additional forms. 

The action by Congress currently provides a two month temporary extension of both Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and the Extended Benefits program (EB).  Specific details not yet available, but it is expected that the expiration of the programs on February 29, 2012 will have the following impact: 

Tennessee Unemployment Compensation – The first 26 weeks of benefits will not be affected.  Emergency

Unemployment Compensation or EUC (Tier 1) – Tier 1 of EUC is up to an additional 20 weeks of benefits available after Tennessee Unemployment Compensation are used. Those receiving benefits in Tier 1 may continue to receive benefits past Feb. 29, but can only exhaust the remaining weeks within this tier. 

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 2) –Tier 2 up to an additional 14 weeks of benefits available after EUC Tier 1 are used. Those receiving benefits in Tier 2 may continue to receive benefits past Feb. 29, but can only exhaust the remaining weeks within this tier. Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 3) – Tier 3 up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits available after EUC Tier 2 are used. Those receiving benefits in Tier 3 may continue to receive benefits past Feb. 29, but can only exhaust the remaining weeks within this tier. 

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (Tier 4) –Tier 4 is up to an additional six weeks of benefits available after EUC Tier 3. Those receiving benefits in Tier 4 may continue to receive benefits past Feb. 29, but can only exhaust the remaining weeks within this tier. 

Extended Benefits (EB) – The Extended Benefit program is up to an additional 20 weeks of benefits available after all tiers of EUC have been used. It is possible the last payable week for all claimants receiving these benefits will be the last week of February.The Tennessee Department of Labor will provide specific details of the last payment date as soon as they become available.

It is important that claimants update their address information to receive information on their claim status and 1099 tax forms.

Updates to your account can be made online at https://ui.tn.gov/Pages/PersonalInformation.aspx. 

The department is awaiting official guidance from the USDOL, and will update this page and our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/tnlabor as soon as information becomes available.