State extends unemployment benefits for additional 13 weeks

St. Paul - The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is extending unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for those who have exhausted both regular UI and Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits.

These benefits become available to those who are paid the last of their EUC benefits for the week ending April 4 or later and are still unemployed. The program provides up to 13 extra weeks of benefits to those who are still seeking work.

"With this extension, unemployed Minnesotans 'could' be eligible for up to 72 weeks of Unemployment Insurance benefits," said DEED Commissioner Dan McElroy. "This provides additional security to people and families affected by unemployment."

To qualify for extended UI benefits, applicants must expand their job search to include work outside their normal occupation, and accept work offered that they are able to perform.

DEED will identify and mail information to Minnesotans who may be eligible as they get close to exhausting their EUC benefits. The first letters were mailed this week.

For more information, check the "What's New" section of www.uimn.org, e-mail ui.mn@state.mn.us, or call 651-296-3644; toll free: 1-877-898-9090; (TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-866-814-1252).

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