Now That Unemployment is Moving Upwards Again

and the cutoff date for applying for extended UI benefits is almost up, Congress is about to move ahead--according to Senator Reid--to extended it again as well as renew the COBRA benefits program:

The bill under discussion Thursday would also extend unemployment payments for those whose benefits have run out, and would renew a program that offers the jobless a subsidy for health insurance premiums under the COBRA program. About $33 billion in popular tax breaks that expired at the end of 2009, including an income tax deduction for sales and property taxes and a business tax credit for research and development, would be extended through 2010.

This is similar to what was passed in the House.

link

This is another article explaining the "window" of applying for extended federal unemployment compensation or moving to the different tiers.