The Missouri House of Representatives passed House Bill 1860 94-41 on April 14, which would reduce the maximum length of unemployment insurance benefits to eight weeks during times of low unemployment. Missouri’s current program indexes unemployment insurance benefits, meaning it provides shorter periods of benefits during times of low unemployment and longer periods of benefits during times of high unemployment.
Currently, the state’s shortest benefits period is 13 weeks when Missouri’s unemployment rate is below 6%. The longest benefits period is 20 weeks if unemployment is 9% or higher. The following list breaks down Missouri’s current benefits period index:
- 20 weeks of benefits if Missouri’s unemployment rate is 9% or higher
- 19 weeks for unemployment higher than 8.5% and lower than 9%
- 18 weeks for unemployment of 8%-8.5%
- 17 weeks for unemployment higher than 7.5% and lower than 8%
- 16 weeks for unemployment of 7%-7.5%;
- 15 weeks for unemployment higher than 6.5% and lower than 7%;
- 14 weeks for unemployment of 6%-6.5%;
- 13 weeks for unemployment below 6%.
