Politics & Government

State Department of Labor Says 61,360 of Georgia's Unemployed Will Be Affected by Sequestration

The department sent out a notice advising it has received notification from the U.S. Department of Labor to reduce Extended Unemployment Benefits by 10.7 percent, effective March 31.

The Georgia Department of Labor issued a news release Monday informing the public that thousands of jobless workers in Georgia receiving federal Extended Unemployment Compensation can expect a cut in those benefits beginning March 31. Sequestration is the reason for the cuts, according to the release. EUC is a federally funded benefit for long-term unemployed workers who have exhausted regular state unemployment insurance benefits.

According to the release, GDOL has been told by the U.S. Department of Labor to reduce EUC benefits by 10.7 percent effective from the week beginning March 31. There are reportedly 61,360 recipients of EUC in Georgia. The maximum weekly benefit currently is $330 and the average is $260. Regular state-funded unemployment insurance benefits will not be affected.

In addition, the federal government is reducing the labor department’s administrative funding grant, used to pay costs of administrating the program, by about $3 million. According to the release, while the cuts will negatively impact operations, it is too soon to know to what extent.

The GDOL will notify recipients who will be affected. Complete information will be available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

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