UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS EXTENDED AN EXTRA 20 WEEKS

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2008 (Sacaramento) – With the state’s unemployment rate at 10.5%, jobless Californians will be eligible to receive unemployment benefits for an additional 20 week.  Legislation signed by Governor Schwarzenegger  will bring help to more than 400,000 California families, the California Labor Federation reports. California workers generated nearly 3,000 letters to legislators and the governor to gain their support for two measures, which will extend unemployment benefits for an additional 20 weeks and modernize the state’s outdated eligibility rules, making the state eligible for an additional $839 million in federal funds.

“Accessing billions in federal unemployment aid not only will keep families in their homes, it’s going to provide a quick boost to withering local economies and small businesses,” said the California Labor Federation’s Art Pulaski.

The Employment Development Department will be publishing details about how to access these benefits. For more information go to www.edd.ca.gov