For Immediate Release

 

Date:               December 11, 2009

Web:                www.coworkforce.com

 

 

 

Additional Weeks of Unemployment Benefits
Now Being Provided to Unemployed Coloradans

Colorado among the first states to make Tier III extended benefits available

 

(DENVER)—Recent federal law granted a third federal extension of unemployment benefits in Colorado and payment of those benefits began yesterday, December 10.  The soonest that states were authorized to begin making payments was the week of December 7 and Colorado is among the first five states in the nation to begin issuing payments under this latest tier of extended benefits.  Already, 10,000 claimants have had additional unemployment payments loaded onto their debit cards.

 

The new law provided more money to Colorado residents who have run out of money on their regular unemployment claims and on the other two prior extensions to their unemployment benefits.  This latest extension is called Tier III of Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) adds a maximum of one week of benefits for Tier II.  It also provides a maximum of 13 weeks of benefits for those who have run out of benefits on other extensions.  Payment of Tier III benefits will be retroactive to November 8, 2009.

 

In order to be eligible for Tier III payments, individuals must have run out of money on their claim for regular unemployment benefits and on Tiers I and II by December 26, 2009.  Those who are currently collecting state extended benefits (see below) will be paid Tier III benefits after January 2, 2010.

 

“These additional weeks address a real, kitchen-table issue for so many Colorado families that are running out of funds,” says Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.  “It will provide a measure of financial stability to people who are worried about making the rent and buying groceries when their unemployment runs out.”

 

Tier I provided a maximum of 20 additional weeks of benefits to those who had run out of money on their regular unemployment claims.  Tier II originally provided a maximum of 13 weeks for those who had run out of money on both their regular claims and on Tier I; the number of weeks on Tier II has now been raised to a maximum of 14.

 

Payment of all EUC benefits ends on May 29, 2010.

 

Colorado passed a law to pay additional weeks under state extended benefits (SEB).  SEB granted a maximum of 13 weeks of benefits to those who had run out of both Tier I and Tier II EUC benefits.  The last payments under SEB will be made on January 2, 2010.  After January 2, those who were collecting SEB will automatically be paid their extra Tier II week and will be placed on federal Tier III EUC.

 

To be eligible for EUC benefits, individuals must meet all the following requirements:

 

§         They must have run out of money from an unemployment claim for regular benefits and from each of the previous tiers.

§         They must not have enough money in wages to file a new unemployment claim in any state or in Canada.

§         They must be able and available for work and currently unemployed or working less than 32 hours per week.

 

Additional information is available online at www.coworkforce.com.

 

 

# # #