Out of Work and Out of Benefits
KAYE: Economists say the recession is officially behind us, but tell that to the jobless -- 14,600,000 are still looking for work, 6,800,000 of those are long-term unemployed. And many of those have maxed out on their unemployment checks. They are pushing Congress to extend benefits, but it's not that simple, as CNN's Lisa Desjardins reports.</s>LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This small building in Washington is an economic survival camp.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The hiring manager is Tony.</s>DESJARDINS: The Opportunities Industrialization Center runs an intensive program of job placement --</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And these are the positions that they're currently hiring for.</s>DESJARDINS: -- and job training. And it's how Alfreda Ray hopes to survive. Two years ago, she was laid off. And then one month ago, her unemployment benefits ran out. She's a 99er -- 99 weeks of checks are over.</s>ALFREDA RAY, OUT OF BENEFITS: I wish they would extend it because it is of great help. It is a great help when you don't have any food stamps and you have rent to pay and you want to keep your phone on.</s>DESJARDINS (on camera): Ray is one of an estimated 1.5 million Americans who will max out on unemployment benefits this is year. Here's how that works. It depends on your state but the majority, here in red, cut off benefits after 99 weeks. That's the absolute max. So-called 99ers are pushing for more benefits for everyone in all states. That raises a complicated debate over how long unemployment benefits should last.</s>RAY: The benefits is nice. It did hinder me, though, very much. It did hinder me very much.</s>DESJARDINS (voice-over): Ray says while she received the checks, she was depressed. She moped around. She didn't do her hair. Losing the benefits, she says, pushed her into gear. And she's blossoming here.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you're going to upload your resume what must be done first?</s>DESJARDINS: But here's the thing. Staff at the center says that most of the people they see desperately need those checks.</s>DYANNE HORNER LITTLE, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTER: The people that we're serving, it's helping them to stay alive, to just make it.</s>DESJARDINS: Indeed Ray has no phone service, but she does get e- mail at the center. She would like six more months of benefits. But without it she's more determined than ever to find a job.</s>RAY: I'm just going to keep grinding the mill and helping people and let people help me.</s>DESJARDINS: Lisa Desjardins, CNN, Washington.</s>KAYE: Some federal tax cuts are about to expire. Unless Congress acts soon, many taxpayers will have to pay more to Uncle Sam next year.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If Congress does nothing, it could lead to one of the largest tax increases in American history.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If new tax law legislation is not implemented, there would be a dramatic effect to the middle class.</s>KAYE: Dire warnings. Who might have to pay more? The bottom line coming up in the next hour of NEWSROOM. Late details now on the Gulf oil disaster. One hundred and five days after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, BP is ready to begin permanently sealing its busted well, perhaps as early as tonight. The procedure involves pumping mud and cement into the well shaft. Other top stories. A Florida-based budget airline is expanding fees to include carry-on luggage. A bag brought onto a Spirit plane will now cost you as much as $45. Spirit insists the move is not profit-motivated, but rather to reduce carry-ons and speed up gate departure times. And troubled Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan left jail today and went straight to rehab. She spent just 13 days behind bars. A judge gave her 90 days for violating parole, but the Los Angeles County sheriff can grant early release due to overcrowding.