Dec. 30 - Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extended

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced that federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) will begin phasing out on Feb. 28, 2010, instead of Dec. 31, 2009. Recent federal legislation extended the benefits.  

“This extension of federal benefits will help unemployed Minnesotans as they continue looking for work,” said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. “Jobs are slowly returning as the economy shows signs of recovery.”

Unemployment insurance benefits are typically available for up to 26 weeks. The federal EUC provides up to 47 additional weeks of unemployment benefits, divided into three tiers. The federal legislation allows individuals to move from one tier to the next through Feb. 28, 2010.

In addition, another 13 weeks of federal-state benefits are available to Minnesotans who have exhausted regular and federal EUC unemployment benefits. The maximum weekly benefit in Minnesota is $585.

The new law also continues the $25 per week supplemental payment to applicants who are receiving either regular unemployment benefits, EUC or State-Federal Extended Benefits.

About 216,000 unemployed workers are currently requesting benefits in Minnesota weekly.

For more information, check the “What’s New” section of www.uimn.org or call 651-296-3644; toll free: 1-877-898-9090; TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-866-814-1252.

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com