Senate Approves Extended Unemployment Benefits

The legislation allows workers in all 50 states to get 14 more weeks of unemployment benefits. Those in states with jobless rates over 8.5 percent would be able to receive an additional six weeks for a total of 20.

Last year, Congress authorized up to 33 additional weeks of emergency unemployment compensation for people in hard-hit states who exhausted their regular benefits -- which are typically based on work history and wages and often last up to 26 weeks.

Originally set to expire in March 2009, the federal stimulus bill extended the window for people to qualify for the additional benefits to the end of December.

Once the President signs the unemployment extension, which he is expected to do, it could be weeks before states can start getting the extension checks out to people who have already exhausted their unemployment benefits. However, the help will be welcomed for many who are already who have exhausted their benefits and have no job prospects in sight.

Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com