Unemployment benefits further expanded in R.I.

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Donald L. Carcieri last week announced extended unemployment benefits for 2,600 Rhode Islanders who had previously been denied the additional funding.
The temporary change in eligibility will be effective through Jan. 1, 2010, Carcieri said. All potential claimants will be notified by mail of the change in eligibility, which is being implemented this month.
The extended benefits will include retroactive payments from Feb. 22 to the present. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, funding for State Extended Benefits issued from Feb. 22 forward comes from the federal unemployment insurance trust fund.
“By expanding the window of eligibility for State Extended Benefits, we can provide much-needed assistance to many long-term unemployed who are struggling to find jobs in this most difficult economy,” Carcieri said. &#8226