Montgomery, AL – Alabamians who are unemployed are eligible for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment compensation benefits, effective Feb. 15, because the state's jobless rate has averaged over 6 percent for three months.
Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said Thursday the additional benefits came through federal legislation.
In November, the state qualified for an extension of 20 weeks. So the two extensions combined result in an additional 33 weeks of benefits added to the existing 26 weeks of regular benefits.
About 12,000 Alabamians may currently be eligible for the additional benefits.
Workers who may qualify will be notified by mail with filing instructions.
Current and future claimants who exhaust their regular benefits will automatically be continued on the extended benefits as long as they qualify.
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