On July 22, President Obama signed The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213). The bill extends unemployment benefits through the end of November and retroactively restores benefits to the roughly 2.5 million long-term unemployed whose benefits ran out at the end of May.

According to the Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development (DWD), approximately 220,000 unemployment vouchers have been filed totaling $54 million in benefits through the federal unemployment extensions since July 28. Payments on eligible vouchers filed over the weekend are expected to be completed today.

WorkOne offices have extended hours this week and will be open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. through Friday, Aug 6. WorkOne Express offices will maintain normal business hours.

Who qualifies?

Unemployed Hoosiers who exhausted the regular state unemployment or emergency unemployment extension after May 29, 2010, may be eligible. Hoosiers who had a balance remaining on Extended Benefits when that program ended on June 12 may also be eligible.

Those who fully exhausted Extended Benefits are not eligible.

How do Hoosiers apply?

Complete online vouchers for each week of benefits to collect. Verify unemployment, report weekly job searches and applications, and report any outside income earned each week.

Hoosiers who have exhausted their Tier 4 benefits are required to apply in person at the local WorkOne Center and will not see vouchers online. A letter from will be received from DWD with instructions for filing for extended benefits at the local WorkOne Center.

What happened to the additional $25 benefit?

This new federal legislation changes the $25 weekly federal additional payment. Anyone who previously collected the $25 per week will continue to collect this money weekly.

Individuals who file new initial unemployment claims after May 29, 2010, will not receive the additional $25 per week.

Resources for more information

Indiana Dept. of Workforce Development: July 2010 Federal Extensions Frequently Asked Questions