OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington’s Employment Security Department says tens of thousands of jobless workers in the state may continue to receive up to 99 weeks of unemployment benefits now that President Obama has signed the new tax package.
The bill signed Friday restores the federal emergency unemployment program that had expired last month and extends it until the end of next year. Currently in Washington there are about 300,000 people with approved claims who will be able to draw benefits from the program.
The new authorization, however, won’t provide any more aid for people who already have exhausted all their benefits.
