WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- New federal extended unemployment benefits ended Sunday, with a key U.S. Republican senator saying any extension needed to be paid for first.
The deadlock could affect more than 1 million jobless.
Starting Monday, CNNMoney.com reported, the jobless may no longer apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy. The federal benefits are divided into three tiers, and the unemployed must reapply each time they move into a new tier.
Federal jobless benefits kick in after the 26 weeks funded by the state expire, the report said. Congress has approved up to an additional 73 weeks, which is federally funded.
But the problem is that after repeated tries, the U.S. Senate failed to extend the Sunday deadline for applying for federal benefits, CNNMoney said.
Senators repeatedly tried to approve a 30-day extension last week, but were blocked each time by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., who insisted the $10 billion proposal need to be paid for before enacted.
The impasse comes as the 9.7 percent unemployment rate is expected to rise in February, with snowstorms in many states stalling the economy, the report said.
Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project, said, "Right now, the 1.2 million workers who will lose benefits in March are being held hostage by partisan attempts to delay and block this critical legislation."
