Many long-term unemployed Alabamians will see their benefits drop 12.8 percent on April 28.
State Labor Department spokeswoman Tara Hutchison said the reductions are the result of mandatory federal spending cuts that all states must make. The cuts will affect people who have been receiving unemployment benefits for more than six months. Currently, about 16,500 Alabamians receive the extended benefits.
The 24,000 Alabamians who have been receiving benefits for less than six months won't be affected. That's because the first 26 weeks of benefits are paid by the state, but benefits beyond 26 weeks are paid by the federal government. The cuts will be in effect for the weeks beginning April 28 through Sept. 30.
Hutchison said the average weekly benefit in Alabama is $207.