Unemployment extensions could end
Updated: December 27, 2012
CHAMPAIGN -- Unemployment benefits could end for some people at the end of the month. It's part of a national discussion about the fiscal cliff.
Many people are worried the government can't afford to help them anymore. This won't affect everyone who is on unemployment. Just the people who have been granted an extension. But even some who are just signing up said this makes them nervous because it could affect them further down the road.
Rusty Henson is a construction worker. But he's out of a job this winter.
"When rent's due, when power is due and your landlord comes and tells you you gotta move because you're not paying your rent but you try to argue with him to say I'm trying to get my unemployment going, but now they're trying to tell my my unemployment doesn't exist anymore?" asked Henson.
He's one of thousands in Champaign County getting unemployment benefits from Washington. But if nothing changes in the next few days, some could get cut off.
"It's going to be around 7,400 unemployed people so we're talking a significant part of the Champaign area population could be affected if they lose their unemployment insurance," said Eric Ferguson, who works as the branch manager for Manpower in Champaign.
They could lose it because lawmakers can't agree what to do with a growing debt problem. And they only have days left to figure it out.
"There's just so many ripple effects," said Ferguson. "There needs to be some kind of decision made pretty quickly."
"I feel sorry for them," said Henson. "I'm one of them. I feel sorry for myself but I can't feel sorry for myself because that's what's going to bring a person down."
Henson said he's not sure what will happen to those people who lose their benefits. But he wishes more could be done.
"I'd like to know from the government why can't they pay it," said Henson. "There should be some kind of money in there where they can pay it."
The latest local numbers show Champaign County had a 7.2% unemployment rate in November. That's down from October's 7.7%. But experts worry that could change if lawmakers in Washington can't find a compromise on taxes and spending cuts.
Many people are worried the government can't afford to help them anymore. This won't affect everyone who is on unemployment. Just the people who have been granted an extension. But even some who are just signing up said this makes them nervous because it could affect them further down the road.
Rusty Henson is a construction worker. But he's out of a job this winter.
"When rent's due, when power is due and your landlord comes and tells you you gotta move because you're not paying your rent but you try to argue with him to say I'm trying to get my unemployment going, but now they're trying to tell my my unemployment doesn't exist anymore?" asked Henson.
He's one of thousands in Champaign County getting unemployment benefits from Washington. But if nothing changes in the next few days, some could get cut off.
"It's going to be around 7,400 unemployed people so we're talking a significant part of the Champaign area population could be affected if they lose their unemployment insurance," said Eric Ferguson, who works as the branch manager for Manpower in Champaign.
They could lose it because lawmakers can't agree what to do with a growing debt problem. And they only have days left to figure it out.
"There's just so many ripple effects," said Ferguson. "There needs to be some kind of decision made pretty quickly."
"I feel sorry for them," said Henson. "I'm one of them. I feel sorry for myself but I can't feel sorry for myself because that's what's going to bring a person down."
Henson said he's not sure what will happen to those people who lose their benefits. But he wishes more could be done.
"I'd like to know from the government why can't they pay it," said Henson. "There should be some kind of money in there where they can pay it."
The latest local numbers show Champaign County had a 7.2% unemployment rate in November. That's down from October's 7.7%. But experts worry that could change if lawmakers in Washington can't find a compromise on taxes and spending cuts.
