Unemployment Benefits 101: Four Basic Questions Answered

Like last year, Congress is debating whether to reauthorize extended unemployment insurance. At stake as early as January are benefits for some 1.8 million Americans, including some 430,000 people who lost jobs as recently as July. Although Republicans and Democrats say they plan to reauthorize the law, they differ on how – or even whether – to pay for it.  Here are the different scenarios and ramifications of what could happen.