Maximum weeks of unemployment insurance benefits, by states that cut benefits duration in the aftermath of the Great Recession

State Current maximum duration
(compared with prior maximum of 26 weeks)
Effective date of cut
Arkansas 25 March 30, 2011
Florida Sliding scale, 12 to 23 January 1, 2012
Georgia Sliding scale, 14 to 20 July 1, 2012
Illinois Sliding scale, 25 to 26 January 1, 2012
Michigan 20 January 1, 2012
Missouri 20 April 13, 2011
North Carolina Sliding scale, 12 to 20 July 1, 2013
South Carolina 20 June 14, 2011

Note: The number of weeks of benefits available to recipients in states with sliding scales is "determined by the state's unemployment rate." In Illinois, the criteria for the duration cut were met in 2012 but not 2013 (meaning 26 weeks were available in 2013). In North Carolina, labor market conditions at the time of implementation were such that the maximum fell to 19 weeks.

Source: Evangelist (2013)

View the underlying data on epi.org.