Nebraska lawmakers in the Business and Labor Committee on February 13, 2024, advanced Legislative Bill 1170, which proposes cutting the maximum unemployment insurance benefit period from 26 weeks down to 16 weeks. The committee advanced the bill 4-3 and designated it as priority legislation for the full legislature.
Legislative Bill 1170 now goes before the full Nebraska State Senate for debate.
Unemployment insurance is a joint federal and state program that provides temporary monetary benefits to eligible laid-off workers who are actively seeking new employment. Qualifying individuals receive unemployment compensation as a percentage of their lost wages in the form of weekly cash benefits while they search for new employment.
The federal government oversees the general administration of state unemployment insurance programs. The states control the specific features of their unemployment insurance programs, such as eligibility requirements and length of benefits.
For information about unemployment insurance programs across the country, click here.
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