Unemployed worried about loss of extended benefits

Ken Hajduk of Mount Prospect made his career in the association management field and, more recently, at a company involved with trade shows. But the slowdown of the convention industry led to Hajduk being laid off in October 2008. He hasn't worked since.

An extension of his jobless benefits has helped to stretch his wife's income and bridge their financial woes. He still was forced to tap into his retirement savings, since he supports a son in high school and another son in college and helps his 93-year-old mother.

"It's been difficult to make ends meet," Hajduk said. "I've already taken the word 'retirement' out of my vocabulary."

He may be taking the word "extension" out of his vocabulary as well. Federal extended jobless benefits expired Sunday, with a proposed renewal of them blocked by U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Kentucky Republican who objects to adding to the deficit.

Hajduk is among 15,000 unemployed people in Illinois affected as of this week, more than half of them in the Chicago and suburban area, according to data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

That could grow to 65,000 Illinois residents by the end of this month as tiered extension programs expire for more people, estimates the New York-based National Employment Law Project, which issued a report in February. The number is expected to reach 290,000 by the end of June.

Nationwide, the organization estimates 1.2 million this month and about 5 million by June will be without extended benefits.

The funding for again extending the benefits was part of a bill passed last week by the U.S. House. But the Senate failed to act on the one-month fix because of Bunning's hold. He wants the $10 billion cost offset by cuts elsewhere in the federal budget; 60 votes in the Senate are required to override his hold.

If Congress passes another extension this week, Illinois could continue its benefit programs without interruption, said Greg Rivara, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

"There's a direct correlation between unemployment benefits and the regional economy," Rivara said. "These benefits are meant to be a bridge to help the individual and the local economy. It provides the individual with dollars to spend locally."

About 550,000 people in Illinois are collecting unemployment benefits. Standard unemployment benefits last 26 weeks, but repeated extensions can push that to a maximum of 99 weeks.

Someone in the midst of one of numerous extension programs will continue to receive benefits until that program ends, Rivara said. Then that's it.

Bob Podgorski, the volunteer leader of St. Hubert's Job and Networking Ministry in Hoffman Estates, said about 30 percent of roughly 180 people who attend their meetings likely are affected by the loss of the extended benefits.

"It's a very scary time for many of these people," Podgorski said. "Many of these individuals already are dipping into retirement savings and trying to meet their obligations and home costs."

Ken Hajduk worries whether he can meet the mortgage on his Mount Prospect home if his extended benefits end this month. He continues his job search by filing applications and networking, he said.

"I'm used to being the provider, but in this current economy, the young and old alike are all having difficulties," Hajduk said.