The Ten States Where The Most Unemployed Could Lose Benefits

http://247wallst.com/2011/12/02/the-ten-states-where-the-most-unemployed-could-lose-benefits/3/

Nearly 2 million Americans currently receiving unemployment benefits stand to lose coverage this January if Congress does not extend the emergency federal unemployment insurance program. 24/7 Wall St. has reviewed a study by the National Employment Law Project to identify the ten states where the most people could lose benefits.

The supercommittee was responsible for extending the unemployment benefits. The group was supposed to reach a federal debt-reduction agreement that would have included an extension of the federal unemployment insurance for people who have run out of state-level benefits. Since the supercommittee failed to reach an agreement, the federal programs will expire on December 31 unless Congressional lawmakers renew it.

1. California
Unemployment rate: 11.7% (2nd highest)
No. residents potentially losing insurance in January: 305,400
Total population: 37,253,956

California is the largest state in the country, by population, and it has the second highest unemployment rate to boot. The state has borrowed $11 billion from the federal government over the last few years for its unemployment fund, and now must pay back that amount plus hundreds of millions of dollars in interest, according to the Los Angeles Times. Unemployed residents who will lose all benefits if federal handouts are not extended will exceed 300,000 — accounting for nearly 17% of all those in the country who will be cut off.