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 | 25 to 26 | January 1, 2012 (expired December 2012) |
| Kansas | Sliding scale, 16, 20, or 26 | January 1, 2014 |
| 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: EPI analysis of Isaacs (2012) and state laws