When the economy improves, everyone benefits. And unemployment insurance is one of the most effective and efficient ways to stimulate the economy.

Let’s say Congress refuses to extend unemployment insurance this November. Earlier this year, due to school budget cuts, Sam lost his job as a bus driver. He no longer receives unemployment benefits. He has been looking for work, but hasn’t found a job. With five applicants for every job opening, even if every open position in the country were filled, four out of five unemployed workers would still be out of work.

Without unemployment benefits, Sam can’t afford to pay the power bill, put gas in his car, or buy milk for his two-year-old daughter, Lily.

On the other hand, if Congress extends unemployment benefits, Sam gets about a third of his prior earnings. It’s not much, but it helps him buy milk and other necessities for Lily.

Sam’s benefits don’t just go in his pocket: they go out into local businesses. He may not be happy until he finds a job, but until then, Sam is better able to take care of his family while contributing to the local economy.

It’s true that one person alone might not make a huge difference, but if millions of other unemployed workers across the country receive unemployment benefits and put that money into their local economy, the impact grows.

With thousands of people in Sam’s town buying milk and other groceries at a store, that store hires new employees and orders more milk from a wholesaler. When the milk wholesaler gets an increase in orders, it hires more drivers… including Sam.

It may have started with direct benefits to unemployed workers and their families, but the larger impact helps the entire community.