Unemployment Offset Stalled -- For Now

     At the moment the bill to extend emergency unemployment benefits is stalled in the Senate. Even if the Senate could pass the bill, it faces an uncertain future in the House of Representatives. The Senate bill included a new offset that would reduce Disability Insurance Benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act by any unemployment benefits received. Even if the bill to extend emergency unemployment benefits cannot be revived, there's a good chance that the unemployment offset will come to Social Security eventually. It would save only a small amount of money, it would be difficult to implement and its fairness is debatable but the proposal has great superficial appeal and few opponents.