Brief Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Eligibility
Thomas Callan, Stephan Lindner, Austin Nichols
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Since the early 1990s, states have gradually adopted modernized eligibility rules for their unemployment insurance (UI) programs. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 further spurred this modernization by providing states with financial incentives to adopt specific provisions. This September 2015 brief updates and extends the 2012 work of Lindner and Nichols by examining the potential and actual effects of UI modernization through 2013. The modernization provisions examined are relaxing the work history requirement by adopting an alternative base period calculation, extending eligibility to those seeking part-time work, and extending eligibility to those who quit their jobs because of compelling family obligations.

Research Areas Social safety net
Tags Wages and nonwage compensation Unemployment and unemployment insurance Job quality and workplace standards
Policy Centers Income and Benefits Policy Center