Patrick signs bill to prevent loss of of federal benefits

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick signed legislation last week that prevents Massachusetts from losing eligibility for federally extended benefits.
After unemployed workers exhaust their state benefits, many become eligible for federally funded benefit extensions. The law allows residents to keep receiving the federal benefits. Without the legislation, the state could have lost the eligibility as early as this month.
The Mass. Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development released statewide employment numbers showing Massachusetts added 15,400 jobs over the month of February. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate dropped to 8.2 percent, below the national average of 8.9 percent.
Questions about the status of individual unemployment insurance claims should be directed to the Mass. Division of Unemployment Assistance at 617-626-6800. &#8226