2,000 unemployed eligible for expanded benefits

AP News (11/18/09)

     The state has notified about 2,000 jobless Montanans whose unemployment benefits have expired that they are now eligible for extended payments under a recently passed federal law.

      Montana's Department of Labor and Industry sent letters last week informing people of their eligibility for one more week of
tier 2 unemployment benefits and up to 13 weeks of the newly created tier 3 benefits. Tier 2 benefits were extended to up to 14
weeks from the previous 13 weeks.

      Roy Mulvaney, administrator of the Labor Department's Unemployment Insurance Division, says the agency wants to send the
latest checks within a couple of weeks. A Nov. 24 target date has been set for those who have the unemployment benefits directly deposited into their bank accounts.