Some Iowans set to lose jobless benefits

About 2,000 Iowans will be losing federal unemployment insurance benefits on a weekly basis over the next several months because Congress did not extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, state officials said today.

Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development, said the EUC consisted of up to 47 additional weeks of jobless benefits. Individuals currently on one of the three tiers of EUC benefits will be allowed to finish the tier, she said, however, additional benefits will not be available.

“While the Iowa economy is showing signs of improvement, there are thousands of individuals still in need of EUC benefits,” Buck said.

Individuals who exhausted their regular Iowa benefits on or before the week ending Nov. 20 were eligible for the first EUC tier, she said. Additionally, a claimant who exhausted Tier 1 or Tier 2 on or prior to the week ending Nov. 27 was eligible for an additional tier of benefits. Those currently on Tier 3 will be allowed to exhaust those benefits, she added.

All eligible EUC benefits must be used by the week ending April 30, 2011, Buck said.

“I strongly encourage anyone in need of employment assistance to visit one of our 55 IowaWORKS offices throughout the state and take advantage of available programs,” she said.

IowaWORKS offices provide a wealth of services including skill assessments; job placement assistance; résumé, interviewing, job search and re-employment classes; basic computer training and more, Buck noted. Additionally, information is available on assistance for re-training and programs such as Training Extension Benefits (www.iowaworkforce.org/trainingextensionbenefits), which can provide an additional 26 weeks of unemployment benefits for those pursuing training in an approved course.

For more information on unemployment benefits and employment services go to

www.iowaworkforce.org to receive contact information for a local IowaWORKS office.