	Unemployment Compensation Program

The cornerstone of income support for unemployed workers is the joint federal-state Unemployment Compensation (UC) program, which may provide income support through UC benefit payments. This also creates a surplus of funds or a "cushion" of available funds for the UC program to draw upon during a recession. Other programs that may provide workers with income support are more specialized. Extended Benefit Program

The Extended Benefit (EB) program, established by P.L. 3304), may extend UC benefits at the state level if certain economic situations within the state exist. This new temporary unemployment insurance program provides up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits to certain workers who have exhausted their rights to regular unemployment compensation (UC) benefits. The EUC08 program is temporary and applies to all states.
A variety of benefits may be available to unemployed workers to provide them with income support during a spell of unemployment. When eligible workers lose their jobs, the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program may provide income support through the payment of UC benefits. Many workers who have exhausted their rights to regular UC benefits may have their unemployment insurance benefits extended for up to 13 additional weeks through the temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program. In addition, the Extended Benefit (EB) program may extend UC benefits at the state level if certain economic situations within the state exist. This report briefly summarizes the UC program, its authorization, appropriations, benefit determination, and funding. For a comprehensive summary of all income support programs available to unemployed workers, consult CRS Report RL33362, Unemployment Insurance: Available Unemployment Benefits and Legislative Activity, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].