DWS News

November 9, 2009

Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extended

Salt Lake City – On Friday, November 6, 2009, President Obama signed legislation to provide unemployed Utah workers up to an additional 14 weeks of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). These expanded federal benefits are in addition to the 13 additional weeks that were to become effective in Utah for the week beginning November 8th that the department announced two weeks ago. EUC originally became effective in Utah in July 2008 for unemployed workers who have exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits. The program has been expanded multiple times and is currently authorized to pay up to an additional 47 weeks of emergency federal benefits on top of the original 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits for a total of up to 73 weeks of benefits. The Utah Department of Workforce Services administers the unemployment insurance program in Utah.

The expanded benefits are effective for the benefit week beginning November 8, 2009 and eligible claimants may begin receiving their payments by November 18. Workforce Services will be notifying unemployed Utah workers who may be eligible for the extension. Letters will be sent to individuals beginning November 9, according to Unemployment Insurance Director, Bill Starks. Generally, the total extended weeks of EUC benefits are equal to 184 percent of the total amount received for regular state unemployment benefits, up to 47 weeks.

Currently over 16,000 unemployed Utah workers have exhausted their original emergency benefits. This federally funded program currently authorizes the expanded benefits from now through December 31, 2009, with a “phase out” period to May 31, 2010; said Mr. Starks. “The Department anticipates a very large call volume the week beginning November 8, thus we strongly encourage eligible claimants to use the Internet to file for the extended benefits as their first option,” added Starks.

Individuals can file a claim for benefits on the Internet at JOBS.UTAH.GOV or phone the state UI Claims Center. (Salt Lake/South Davis Counties: 801-526-4400; Weber/North Davis Counties: 801-612-0877; Utah County: 801-375-4067; and elsewhere in the state and out-of-state: 888-848-0688).

###DWS###