The auto maker and the union signed a contract last fall requiring Ford to pay up to $1.6 billion in supplemental unemployment benefits.

The dancers will continue to receive supplemental unemployment benefits provided by the company, under the terms of their contract, during the weeks they are not working.

There were no supplemental unemployment benefits then.

He advocated for increased government assistance for lower income constituents including job training, health care, and supplemental unemployment benefits with welfare as a safety net.

Some companies in the United States utilize Supplemental Unemployment Benefits.

Until recently, G.M.'s supplemental unemployment benefits fund cushioned the shock of layoffs for most workers, even those who could not find jobs within a year.

It was the first industry to pay a cost-of-living allowance, the first to establish supplemental unemployment benefits and the first to grant paid personal holidays.

"Cost of living allowances, guaranteed annual wages and supplemental unemployment benefits were first introduced by the United Auto Workers," he said.

In the past, the union did not contest the company's right to lay off workers but focused on maintaining their income with supplemental unemployment benefits and other payments.

In addition to state unemployment benefits, laid-off G.M. workers would draw supplemental unemployment benefits of $220 to $330 a week from the company.

Parts suppliers, which make everything from seats to trunk carpets, usually do not pay supplemental unemployment benefits, so their workers would suffer a sharper drop in pay.

Pension plans were established, as well as a Supplemental Unemployment Benefits fund, which supplemented employees unemployment insurance during periods of layoff.

He added that most of the affected employees have at least 15 years' seniority, entitling them to long-term income support after the expiration of their supplemental unemployment benefits.

The second fund, providing supplemental unemployment benefits, has about $725 million left out of $1.65 billion, G.M. said, adding that it should last until the present contract expires on Sept. 14.

The auto maker's contract with the United Automobile Workers union did not require it to pay supplemental unemployment benefits in March to workers laid off because of the Dayton strike.

Last season, orchestra members were guaranteed 23 weeks of full-pay work and six more weeks in which they would be employed or would be paid "supplemental unemployment benefits" amounting to one half their wages.

During temporary shutdowns, workers receive up to 95 percent of their salaries for a 40-hour week from a combination of unemployment insurance and payments from a G.M. and U.A.W. supplemental unemployment benefits fund.

Among the types of benefits with a VEBA may provide are accident insurance benefits, childcare costs, employee continuing education, the cost of legal services, life insurance benefits, severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, sick leave pay, training benefits, and vacation pay.