Unemployment benefits extended by Congress

November 8, 7:34 PMPhiladelphia Unemployment ExaminerSharon Sulecki

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Photo: Flickr)

Congress is extending unemployment benefits with a $24 billion economic package in an overwhelming 98-0 vote. The bill went from the Senate to the House and then quickly to President
Obama for signing. The benefits also extend the home-buyers tax credit and tax relief for struggling businesses.

The benefits provide the unemployed with up to 20 weeks in additional benefits. Every state will get 14 more weeks of benefits. States with unemployment rates exceeding 8.5% get another 6 weeks on top of it. Pennsylvania falls in the latter.

This action was needed to help during a time when there are 15 million jobless and only 3 million open jobs. Approximately 7,000 people run out of benefits every day.

Read info on the extension at the PA Department of Labor and Industry web site.