Law Extends Emergency Unemployment Benefits Through 2011

Ellen Lockyer, KSKA – AnchorageAlaskans drawing unemployment benefits will be able to continue to apply for emergency unemployment compensation after their regular benefits are exhausted.The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides for eligibility retroactive to Nov. 30, when the program ended.Bill Kramer is the state’s chief of Unemployment Insurance.The new law extends the date to establish new claims for emergency benefits through Dec. 31 of next year, and allows payment of emergency benefits balances until June 9 of 2012.The Alaska Department of labor and Workforce Development does not anticipate any delays in getting payments to claimants who have filed for them, according to Kramer.Kramer says people whose benefits were interrupted will be sent a letter letting them know how their claim will be affected.Download Audio (MP3)