The 44,000 Utahns who receive unemployment benefits will receive an additional $25 to $75 per week beginning Sunday, although the amount may not be reflected in their checks until sometime around mid-March, according to a statement Wednesday by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the unemployment insurance program in Utah.
The increase is part of the federal stimulus package and lasts from Sunday through Dec. 31, with a phase-out program until June 30, 2010. The state is required to enter an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to send out the money. In the meantime, Workforce Services is programming its systems to begin paying the extra money by March 16 and backdating money from Feb. 22.
Also part of the federal stimulus package is the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which authorizes up to an extra 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, not for each claimant but rather for the entire program through Dec. 31 with a phase-out provision until May 31, 2010. About 4,400 Utahns have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits and are receiving emergency unemployment compensation. Last year at this time, 16,400 unemployed workers were filing for unemployment.
news source : http://deseretnews.com/
Should you wait until your car is stolen to worry about protecting it? Of course not! Your car is a crucial part of your life, and it's important to keep it protected. With that in mind, here's the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the most frequently stolen 2005-2007 model year vehicles in 2008:
1. Cadillac Escalade ESV 4-door 4WD
2. Ford F-250 SuperCrew 2WD/4WD
3. Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
4. Dodge Charger
5. Ford F-350 SuperCrew 2WD/4WD
6. Hummer H2 SUT 4-door 4WD
7. Dodge Magnum
8. Hummer H2 4-door 4WD
9. Dodge Durango 4-door 2WD/4WD
10. Honda S2000 Convertible
If your vehicle is on the "most frequently stolen list," you're at even greater risk for theft -- and you're probably paying more for car insurance as a result.
4 Easy Ways to Prevent Car Theft
If your car made the "most frequently stolen" list, don't worry: there are a number of things you can do to keep it safe. Prevention is the best defense against car theft, and the NICB recommends using these four "layers of protection" to safeguard your vehicle from would-be thieves:
Layer 1 - Use Your Head!
This first layer is a no-brainer: lock your car's doors! An unlocked vehicle with a key in the ignition is an open invitation to any thief, regardless of which anti-theft device you use. Keeping your doors locked is the simplest and most cost-effective way to thwart would-be thieves.
Layer 2 - Purchase a Security Device
Installing a visible or audible device which alerts thieves that your vehicle is protected can help protect your car. As a bonus, a car alarm could land you a car insurance discount. Types of devices include audible alarms, steering column collars, steering wheel locks, brake locks and wheel locks.
Layer 3 - Immobilizing Device
If a thief does enter your vehicle, an immobilizing device can help prevent the car from being hotwired. Some electronic devices have computer chips in ignition keys. Other devices inhibit the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine until a hidden switch or button is activated. Popular third layer devices include smart keys, fuse cut-offs, kill switches and starter/ignition and fuel disablers.
Layer 4 - Tracking Device
The final layer of protection is a tracking device which emits a signal to a police or monitoring station when the vehicle is reported stolen. Tracking devices are very effective in helping authorities recover stolen vehicles.
Safety Devices = Car Insurance Discounts
Taking measures to protect your car against theft could save you money on car insurance! Anti-theft devices could save you 10% or more on your car insurance rate. Even better, using a LoJack® anti-theft device could cut your insurance costs as much as 30% with a participating insurer. The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that over one million vehicles are stolen in the U.S. each year-35% of which are never recovered. Now more than ever, make sure your vehicle is protected with a car insurance policy.
news source : http://www.kristv.com/
Unemployment is rising sharply among the older segment of the working population. According to the Unemployment Insurance Fund, the rate at which over 56-year old workers are losing jobs is higher than during the depression of 90's. Compared to last year, twice as many have been shifted into early retirement plans.
Unemployment Insurance Fund Managing Director Heikki Pohja is critical of how many companies speak of pension arrangements for older workers, when it would be more honest to say that they are being fired. "In most cases, it is a matter of the employee losing his or her job and living on unemployment benefits for several years before it is time to get an old-age pension," points out Pohja..
The rise in firings of older employees is in conflict with the government's target of keeping people in the labour force as long as possible. The chairman of a committee that has been examining an overhaul of social welfare, Markku Lehto, has expressed fears that the same thing will happen as during the last serious economic downswing: the job market will lose skilled people and know-how that it will never get back.
"This is clearly a setback. Finland was just turning over a new leaf in appreciation of older people in the workforce. It will be very difficult to get them back into the job market, even if the situation changes within two or three years," argues Lehto. Matti Kokkinen, in Forssa, is being moved into early retirement this summer after 34 years of working at a house construction plant. As late as at the end of 2008, his job looked secure, but the situation changed rapidly. While the early retirement scheme is voluntary, he feels that he is being forced into it.
news source : http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/
A car manufacturer has launched a new model especially designed for those suffering from the current economic crisis, car insurance customers may like to hear. Citroen has launched the new C1 Splash, described as "the ideal city car to cruise through the credit crunch," as a bid to help motorists cut costs during the current crisis. According to the manufacturer, the new model offers 62.8 mpg and falls into insurance group one, providing its customers with both cheaper fuel and insurance costs.
The C1 Splash is cheap on road tax letting off 106 g/km CO2 emissions and it also includes air conditioning, central locking, side airbags and electric front windows with a choice of two colours- metallic Electra Blue or Lipizian White, which are exclusive only to this model. Prices for the C1 Splash model begin at £7,345. Meanwhile, Tayside police have ordered drivers to ensure they take adequate safety precautions during the weather conditions. Chief Inspector Sandy Bowman said: "Maintenance is key and ensuring that the vehicle is serviced correctly is extremely important…Brakes, tyres, lights, batteries, windscreens and wiper blades must be in good working order."
news source : http://www.onlyfinance.com/
The 44,000 Utahns who receive unemployment benefits will receive an additional $25 to $75 per week beginning Sunday, although the amount may not be reflected in their checks until sometime around mid-March, according to a statement Wednesday by the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the unemployment insurance program in Utah.
