Hoosiers may be eligible for extended unemployment compensation benefits

Special to the Tribune-Star

July 14, 2008 04:35 pm

— Hoosiers who have exhausted their original state unemployment insurance coverage may now be eligible for up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits. A few weeks ago, President Bush signed a bill authorizing federal Extended Unemployment Compensation for those who have expended their state unemployment benefits.
Generally, to qualify for federal EUC, a person must meet the same requirements set forth for state unemployment benefits. The prerequisites include:
n Must be currently unemployed
n Have worked 20 weeks, or its equivalent, before being separated from employment
n State unemployment benefits must be exhausted
Federal EUC covers those unemployed on or after May 1, 2007. It also will be available to workers who use up their state unemployment benefits anytime before March 31, 2009.
Hoosiers could begin applying for EUC on July 6 by visiting the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Web site at www.in.gov/dwd and selecting the “filing for unemployment” link on the upper right side of the page.
Answers to questions about the program are available on the department’s Web site.
Applications also can be made in person, at WorkOne offices. After a DWD review, qualified individuals will be eligible to receive payments starting this week.