On November 21, 2008, President Bush signed legislation providing additional weeks of Emergency Unemployment, effective November 23, 2008. To make an initial application for additional weeks of benefits, call your Regional Claims Center. The initial application for additional weeks of benefits cannot be made on-line at our website.
The Division of Employment Security is in an extremely heavy workload period due to an increase in new claims being filed and the federal government's extension of unemployment benefits. The time it takes to determine eligibility for benefits has increased if you were separated from work for any reason other than a lack of work. The investigation process is currently taking six to eight weeks. Regional Claims Center representatives will be answering calls from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday-Friday.
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