Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2009-11-18)
LOUISVILLE
(Kentucky Public Radio) -
Officials with the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training are working to program an extension of unemployment benefits into their computer systems. The work comes after the federal government extended unemployment benefits for thousands of Americans.
The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program adds another twenty weeks of unemployment benefits to Kentucky's jobless because the unemployment rate is higher than 8.5%. Spokesperson Lanny Brannock says about 10,000 Kentuckians have exhausted their 79 weeks of benefits previously approved.
"This extension will allow them to continue to receive benefits and give them some money each month to let them live their lives and do the things they need to do," Brannock said.
Brannock says it'll likely take another two weeks before people can file for the additional unemployment, and checks should be reaching their mailboxes in four weeks.
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