|
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS TO GET EXTENDED BENEFITS
State triggers back onto extended benefits due to federal formula
Unemployment benefits
for eligible, jobless Alaskans will be extended the week ending Nov 16,
2002.
According to Bill Kramer, Assistant Director for Unemployment Insurance
with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Alaska's
total unemployment rate has recently risen above 6.5%, triggering a
federally-determined formula that controls whether or not a state can
pay up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment under the Extended Benefit
(EB) program.
Labor is sending letters to potentially eligible workers notifying them
that the first payable week for Extended Benefits is the week ending
November 16, 2002. Those who have a benefit claim year ending November
10, 2002 or later, and are not eligible for other unemployment benefits,
may be entitled to Extended Benefits.
Additionally, those workers not qualifying for Extended Benefits may
meet the criteria for the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC)
program, in effect since Governor Knowles signed an agreement with the
federal government in March 2002, a result of Congress’ economic
stimulus package. TEUC eligibility differs from the EB program
requirements, but both are wholly or partially federally funded.
Kramer said that historically the state triggers onto Extended Benefits
according to the federal formula during winter months, and suspends them
during months when more work is available. Unemployment insurance
benefits are cycled back into communities where people are temporarily
out of work, helping to promote economic stability in the state.
|