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Approximately 8,000 New Mexicans Eligible

(Albuquerque, NM) – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions announced the extension of eligibility for Emergency Unemployment Insurance Benefits through November 30, 2010.

“Department staff have worked diligently over the past week to enable our unemployment insurance system to pay eligible claimants as soon as Sunday, August 1, 2010,” said Ken Ortiz, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

Two types of potentially eligible claimants are affected. The first type, those who have been certifying weekly since June 2, 2010, will be paid upon their next weekly certification. The second type, claimants who stopped certifying in June and may be eligible, will receive a letter early next week directing them how to re-engage their benefits.

On July 22, 2010 President Obama signed an extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008. Emergency unemployment compensation benefits will be available to individuals who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation under state law.

This legislation does not add additional weeks for claimants to receive benefits; the maximum number of weeks of benefits is 99. Emergency benefits are paid by the federal government and claimants may be eligible up until November 30, 2010.

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For Immediate Release Contact: Joy Forehand
July 30, 2010 505.841.8482