President Bush has signed legislation that restores - for five months - the unemployment insurance extended benefits program. The extended benefits program is the same as the program that started on March 10, 2002 and expired on December 28, 2002.
The legislation:
- Continues extended benefits for claimants whose benefits were interrupted by the December 28, 2002 end date. This means that claimants who had not collected all of their extended benefits before the December cutoff date will be paid retroactively.
- Provides up to 13 weeks of extended benefits for claimants who exhaust their regular state unemployment benefits. Extended benefits claims can be filed through May 31, 2003.
- Does not provide additional extended benefits for claimants who had already collected up to 13 weeks of extended benefits before December 28, 2002. This means that claimants who collected up to 26 weeks of state UI benefits and up to 13 weeks of extended benefits --for a maximum of up to 39 weeks of benefits - will not be eligible for any additional benefits.
DET Action
DET has continued to take signings from extended benefits claimants - and to take new extended benefits claims from those who exhausted their regular state UI benefits -despite the December 28 cutoff.
According to DET Director Jack King, "DET is moving forward to pay affected claimants without delay or disruption."
DET has also:
- Continued health insurance coverage beyond December 28, 2002 for claimants who had not yet collected all of the weeks of ex-tended benefits available to them.
- Continued taking new Medical Security Plan applications from people who exhausted their regular state unemployment insurance benefits after December 28.
To file a claim
Individuals who exhaust their state UI benefits can file their extended benefits claims by calling DET toll free at 1-800-535-0796.
-From The Boston Globe 1/9/03
01/03
