MA Residents to Lose 7 Weeks of HUP Extended State Benefits

But because the state’s three-month unemployment average has fallen below 8 percent, the federal “extended benefits” portion has been reduced by seven weeks, the state workforce office said Monday. The office said last Thursday that the state unemployment rate has fallen to 7.6 percent, bringing the state’s three-month average to 7.8 percent.

Unemployment benefits in Massachusetts currently include 26 weeks of state benefits, 47 weeks of federal emergency unemployment compensation benefits, and an additional 20 weeks of extended benefits, said state unemployment division director Judith Cicatiello. The extended benefits portion is dropping to 13 weeks from 20 weeks, starting July 9.

couth11 wrote:If it can be proven those #s are false, can they be reinstated?

Saltydog33 wrote:Well I just started my EB and felt like I was walking the plank. Now I feel like they are sawing the plank off to make it even shorter. I will prevail and do what ever I have to keep my head above water.

The Labor Department notified the state late Friday that its average unemployment rate had fallen below the 8 percent threshold and eligibility for extended benefits will be shortened by seven weeks. An estimated 20,000 residents already in this program could be cut off from benefits sooner than expected; the first of them, about 6,500, will reach the new limit in July and exhaust their benefits.