Length of jobless benefits is reduced to 72 weeks
The U.S. Department of Labor has certified that the state is no longer eligible for the final tier of extended federal unemployment benefits. As a result, the potential number of weeks of jobless benefits available must be reduced from 79 to 72.
The U.S. Department of Labor has certified that the state is no longer eligible for the final tier of extended federal unemployment benefits.
As a result, the potential number of weeks of jobless benefits available must be reduced from 79 to 72.
The change in program eligibility was triggered by September’s unemployment rate of 7.3 percent. The lower rate dropped Minnesota’s average unemployment rate for the past three months to 7.8 percent. The final seven weeks of federal benefits are only available in states where the three-month average unemployment rate is 8 percent or higher.
The change will immediately affect about 3,500 applicants who are already in the final seven weeks of benefits. There are currently about 170,000 people requesting unemployment insurance each week.
The change takes effect the week beginning November 15. State officials are notifying affected people of the change.
Unemployment benefits typically are available for up to 26 weeks in Minnesota up to a maximum of $585 per week, but various state and federal extensions in the past year pushed the maximum amount of time that eligible clients could receive benefits to 79 weeks.
People who are looking for work should visit their nearest WorkForce Center for assistance. For locations, go online to www.PositivelyMinnesota.com or call
1-888-GETJOBS (1-888-438-5627).
Tags: state news, us department of labor, news, jobs, benefits, unemployment
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