It's Time to Raise the Maximum Weekly Benefit for Unemployment!

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It's Time to Raise the Maximum Weekly Benefit for Unemployment!

Alaska State Legislature

House Majority Leader Chris Tuck is the sponsor of House Bill 142 which would raise the maximum weekly benefit amount (MWBA) for unemployment from $370 to $510. Why is this needed?

Alaska ranks 37th for its MWBA, but 11th in how many unemployed workers receive benefits. While Washington's MWBA is $681, Oregon's is $590, and California's is $450, Alaska lags behind. Not only that, but Alaska ranks LAST for wage replacement ratio- that means that the MWBA of $370 only replaces 36% of someone average weekly wage. To top it off, Alaska hasn't raised the MWBA since 2009.

With the recession that Alaska is currently feeling and more hard working folks going on unemployment through no fault of their own, it is time to raise the maximum weekly benefit amount so that we can take care of Alaska's workers!

Sponsored by

Alaska AFL-CIO

, AK

To: Alaska State Legislature
From: [Your Name]

Dear Legislators,

For Alaska to thrive, we need to attract and keep skilled workers as well as provide those workers with economic stability. HB 142 (Increase to Alaska's UI Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount) is one step toward doing just that.

Right now, Alaska lags behind most other states as far as the amount we provide to workers, who, through no fault of their own and sometimes due to the seasonal nature of work in Alaska, find themselves without employment. While we are 37th in for our Maximum Weekly Benefit Amount (MWBA) with $370, we are 11th when it comes to how many unemployed workers receive benefits. And we are dead last (including DC and Puerto Rico) when it comes to our wage replacement ratio. The last time the MWBA was raised was 2009. This is not a recipe for success for Alaska's workers.

We urge you to support HB 142 when it comes to your committee or when it comes up for a vote. Raising the MWBA to $510 with annual reviews after that will help Alaska's workers weather the boom and bust cycle that we find ourselves in and allow our state to retain a committed workforce.

Thank you for your time,