	Introduction

Many states have enacted changes to their Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs in recent years. This report first provides a brief overview of the unemployment compensation programs and benefits that may be available to eligible, unemployed individuals. Next, the two categories of UC state law issues are discussed: 
1. changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits and 2. changes in the maximum UC weekly benefit amount. Until its expiration the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State), the temporary Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program also provided up to four tiers of additional weeks of unemployment benefits to certain workers who had exhausted their rights to UC benefits in states with high unemployment. Extended Benefit Program

The Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, P.L. (This temporary 100% federal funding for EB is now expired.) There are two types of payable periods for EB benefits. Because states administer all unemployment benefits, including EB and EUC08 benefits (when authorized), through their state UC programs, states were facing increased administrative pressure regarding program integrity. State Law Changes to UC Benefit Duration

In response to similar state UC financial stress following prior recessions, states have typically reduced the amount of UC benefits paid to individuals through reductions in the maximum benefit amount or through changes in the underlying benefit calculations. Effective October 1, 2015, Arkansas further reduced its UC maximum duration to up to 20 weeks. In an opinion issued July 26, 2016, however, the Missouri Supreme Court found this 2015 law unconstitutional. North Carolina decreased the maximum UC duration from 26 weeks to a variable maximum duration, depending on the state unemployment rate and ranging from 12 weeks up to 20 weeks. In addition, one state enacted a law with that decreased maximum UC duration only for a particular calendar year:
Illinois enacted a law that decreased UC maximum duration in the state from 26 weeks to 25 weeks, effective only for calendar year 2012. Examples of adjusted EUC08 benefit durations—based on a weekly benefit amount of $300 and a new maximum UC duration of 20 weeks—are also provided:
Tier I of EUC08 (prior to expiration) Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, the unreduced EUC08 tier I duration would have been up to 20 weeks—based on up to 26 weeks of unreduced state UC benefits—at a weekly benefit amount of $300) 54% of 20 weeks of UC = 10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240) Tier II of EUC08 (prior to expiration) Duration formula: 54% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 14 weeks at $300) 54% of 20 weeks of UC = 10.8 weeks; up to 10 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240) Tier III of EUC08 (prior to expiration) Duration formula: 35% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 13 weeks at $300) 35% of 20 weeks of UC = 7 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 Tier IV of EUC08 (prior to expiration) Duration formula: 39% of the duration of an individual's total regular UC benefits in benefit year Illustration of adjusted duration (formerly, up to 6 weeks at $300) 39% of 20 weeks of UC = 7.8 weeks; up to 7 weeks at weekly benefit amount of $300 and the last week prorated at $240 ($300/0.8 = $240)
EUC08 tier duration calculations (prior to program expiration) for each state that enacted a reduction in regular UC benefit duration are provided in Table 2 . 110-252 , as amended, included a "nonreduction" rule that made the availability of federally financed EUC08 benefits (when authorized) contingent on not actively changing the state's method of calculation for UC benefits, if the method would have decreased weekly benefit amounts. 111-5 . Any reduction to the UC weekly benefit amount also translates into reduced EUC08 (when authorized) and EB weekly benefit amounts. Therefore, if the average weekly wage declines in these states, they may experience automatic reductions in UC average weekly benefit amount, which are permitted under the "nonreduction" rule. P.L. 112-96 provided a specific exception to this UC "nonreduction" rule in the case of state legislation that was enacted before March 1, 2012. In February 2013, North Carolina enacted legislation that included a provision to actively reduce UC weekly benefit amounts in the state. All tiers of EUC08 ended in North Carolina as of June 29, 2013. With the expiration of the EUC08 program as of the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State), the "nonreduction" rule is no longer effective.
This report analyzes recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Two categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefits, and (2) changes in the UC weekly benefit amount.
In recent years, some states have enacted legislation to decrease the maximum number of weeks of regular state UC benefits. Until 2011, all states paid at least up to 26 weeks of UC benefits to eligible, unemployed individuals. In 2011, however, six states passed legislation to decrease their maximum UC benefit durations: Arkansas, Florida, Illinois (only for calendar year 2012), Michigan, Missouri, and South Carolina. In 2012, Georgia also passed legislation to decrease the maximum UC benefit duration. In 2013, Kansas and North Carolina enacted similar legislation. Subsequently, in 2015, Arkansas and Missouri enacted additional state laws to further reduce their maximum UC durations. In the case of Missouri, however, the Missouri Supreme Court found the 2015 law unconstitutional; therefore, this further UC duration reduction is not in effect. In 2016, Idaho reduced its maximum UC duration. Finally, in 2017, Arkansas passed a third reduction in its maximum UC duration. As a result of these state law changes, depending on state unemployment, the shortest potential UC maximum duration is currently 12 weeks (in Florida and North Carolina), compared with 26 weeks prior to 2011.
Changes in UC benefit duration have consequences for the duration of federal unemployment benefits that may be available to unemployed workers, including Extended Benefits (EB) and benefits from the now-expired Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC08) program. Because state UC benefit duration is an underlying factor in the calculation of duration for additional federal unemployment benefits, reducing UC maximum duration also reduces the number of weeks available to unemployed workers in the federal extended unemployment programs (including EUC08, which is now expired, and EB).
Prior to the expiration of the EUC08 program on December 28, 2013 (December 29, 2013, in New York), states were temporarily subject to a "nonreduction" rule (under P.L. 111-205, as amended), which made the availability of federally financed EUC08 benefits contingent on not actively changing the state's method of calculation for UC benefits, if it would have decreased weekly benefit amounts. Some states, however, make automatic adjustments to weekly benefit amounts under existing state law. Consequently, when these states experience certain conditions, such as a decrease in the average weekly wage used in the automatic adjustment calculation, their maximum weekly UC benefit amount may have been decreased without having violated the now-expired "nonreduction" rule. P.L. 112-96 provided a specific exception to the "nonreduction" rule in the case of state legislation enacted before March 1, 2012. In February 2013, North Carolina enacted legislation that actively reduced UC weekly benefit amount calculations beginning in July 2013. Due to this violation of the "nonreduction" rule, EUC08 benefits were no longer available in North Carolina, effective June 29, 2013. All EUC08 benefits expired as of the week ending on or before January 1, 2014 (i.e., December 28, 2013; or December 29, 2013, in New York State). Any reduction to the UC weekly benefit amount also translates into reduced EB weekly benefit amounts (and EUC08 benefit amounts when the program was authorized).
Overall, the two types of changes to state UC laws and programs have consequences for the duration and amount of unemployment benefits. This report describes these changes and analyzes their consequences for UC, EUC08 (when it was authorized), and EB benefits. It will be updated, as needed, to reflect additional state UC changes.