Lingle authorizes extra 13 weeks of unemployment benefits
Advertiser Staff
Gov. Linda Lingle has authorized the extension of 13 additional weeks of federally funded unemployment benefits for the state of Hawai'i, according to a news release issued today by the governor's office.
The extension will be in effect from July 6 through March 31, 2009.
Currently, those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own are authorized to collect 26 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits.
The extension is authorized under the Emergency Unemployment Compensation that was signed by President Bush as part of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008. While the extension is approved by the president and Congress, the governors of each state must authorize the use of extended benefits for their individual states.
"This extension will provide unemployed individuals and their families with additional financial resources to help pay their bills as they get back into the job market," Lingle said in the release.
She added, "These extended benefits will not have an impact on the state's General Fund or the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, as all of the benefits are provided through the federal government."
To ensure prompt payment of the EUC, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced today that they will be mailing out notices to an estimated 37,000 individuals who are potentially eligible for EUC benefits. These individuals should report in person with their notice to a local DLIR unemployment insurance claims office to file for the EUC. Individuals who qualify for the EUC should receive their notice no later than July 19.
Individuals who have not received a notice by July 19, but believe that they may qualify for the EUC, should call their local claims office at the following locations:
To collect the EUC, claimants must meet the following qualifications:
Basic requirements:
Must have exhausted all regular benefits or the benefit year on a regular claim has expired. Claimants who have exhausted or have had their benefits expired must have a benefit year ending date after April 30, 2007 on their last regular claim. Claims with a benefit year beginning May 2, 2006 and a benefit year ending May 1, 2007, and thereafter will meet this requirement.
Special requirements
