Additional Extended Benefits Available Through The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program

Friday, January 30^th, 2009 --- Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Suzanne M. Bump announced today that, per the United States Department of Labor, effective February 15, 2009 Massachusetts claimants who have exhausted regular and extended unemployment insurance benefits may be eligible for up to 13 additional weeks of benefits under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008.

All potentially eligible Massachusetts claimants will be mailed instructions the week of February 8^th regarding how to file for additional extended benefits by the Division of Unemployment Assistance. The weekly benefit amount will be the same as the amount a claimant collected on their first extended benefit claim.

For more information, claimants should check the DUA web site at www.mass.gov/dua.