GUIDE TO LEADING POLIcIEs, PRAcTIcEs & REsOURcEs ...

art IThe Cost of UnemploymentCompensation & PublicBenefitsUnemployment compensation is availableto veterans for up to 99 weeks through theUnemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers(UCX) program, EmergencyUnemployment Compensation (EUC08),and the Extended Benefit (EB). Benefitsare repaid to the states by the militarybranches as no withholding exists forunemployment compensation from servicemember paychecks. States, however,determine the benefit programs available,benefit amounts, number of weeks ofbenefits available, as well as the eligibilityfor benefits. 15“For FY 2010, approximately $1,571 millionin unemployment benefits (UCX,EUC08, EB, and the since expired $25 federaladditional compensation benefit) weredistributed to former military personnel.” 16Purely from an employment outcome perspective,it may be better to direct the UCXbenefits to other employment or trainingprograms. From a public policy perspective,and to the extent that unemploymentbenefits support health, mental health,financial stability, and perhaps needed timeout of the labor force, UCX may serve multiplepurposes other than income support.Unemployment benefits for veterans rangefrom a low of $235 per week to as high as$862 per week, or approximately $12,200to nearly $45,000 annually (depending onthe state in which the claim is filed). This isequivalent to minimum wage at 34 hoursper week on the low end of the scale, andsignificantly less than earnings in service.However, it may be equivalent or nearlyso to those jobs available in some ruralareas with little available employment. Bycomparison, a junior enlisted service memberat the grade of E-4 with over 3 yearsof service earns base pay of about $22,600annually, with housing and meals providedor housing and food allowances paid as additionalincome. Those veterans from 18 to24 years of age who separate are most likelyjunior enlisted members. While calculationsof comparative wages are beyond thescope of this guide, understanding relativecompensation of junior enlisted members,employment opportunities and wagesimmediately available to them, and theunemployment benefits available to themfor up to 99 weeks may partially explaindelays in seeking employment. This maybe particularly true in comparison to jobsreadily available in certain geographiclocations post-service.Public policy may also encourage delaysin seeking employment or structuring thejob search to maximize benefit eligibility.For example, it is possible in some statesto seek unemployment compensation andthen to begin workforce development system-fundedtraining, particularly for highdemand industries. This allows receipt ofunemployment benefits, tuition paymentsfor education and training lasting up totwo years, and no concurrent obligationto seek work during the training. At theend of the training, often provided at acommunity college and bearing degree16 INSTITUtE FOR veterans and military families