GOVERNOR LINDA LINGLE AUTHORIZES INCREASE IN WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR UNEMPLOYEDAdditional $25 a Week Per Claimant to Boost Hawai`i's Economy by $600,000 Weekly Through End of Year For Immediate Release: February 19, 2009
HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle announced today that she has authorized an additional $25 a week in unemployment benefits per claimant as part of the federal stimulus package that was signed by President Barack Obama yesterday. Governor Lingle signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor which makes the increase effective starting February 22, 2009. This increase in benefits is estimated to add over $600,000 to Hawai‘i’s economy each week. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Section 2002 of Title II, creates a new federally funded program which provides the $25 weekly benefit increase through calendar year 2009. While the increase was approved by the President and Congress under the federal stimulus package, the governors of each state must authorize the use of the funds for their individual states. “Governor Lingle has taken swift action to ensure that Hawai‘i’s unemployed workers receive the increased benefit as quickly as possible,” said Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Darwin Ching. “This weekly increase in benefits will provide unemployed individuals in Hawai‘i and their families with additional financial resources to help pay their bills as they get back into the job market,” said Governor Lingle. “The increased benefits will not impact the state's General Fund or the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, as all of the benefits are provided through the federal government as part of the economic stimulus package.” ###
For more information, go to: www.hawaii.labor.gov Document Actions |
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