PA EUC benefits extnd

BC-PA-EUC-benefits-extnd

To: STATE EDITORS

Contact: David Smith, L&I, +1-717-787-7530; or Gary Tuma of the PA

Governor's Office, +1-717-783-1116

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.

Rendell today said Pennsylvanians who are out of work through no fault of

their own now may qualify for two more months of emergency unemployment

compensation and health care coverage through the COBRA premium reduction.

"The continuation of federal UC benefits and health insurance assistance,

even for two months, is great news for Pennsylvanians this holiday season,"

said Governor Rendell. "Now, more families can receive benefits they need to

pay for food, shelter, utilities and other necessities during the coldest

months of the year."

Legislation signed by President Obama on Dec. 19 extends the qualification

period for federal emergency unemployment compensation, or EUC, and the $25

weekly Federal Additional Compensation payment through Feb. 28, 2010. The

continuation of the EUC program allows eligible Pennsylvanians to apply for

six additional weeks of benefits that had been included in previous

legislation.

Individuals who believe they qualify should simply continue filing their

biweekly claims. Claimants will be contacted by the Department of Labor &

Industry if any additional information is needed.

Individuals who exhaust their maximum of 26 weeks of regular state

unemployment benefits by Feb. 20, 2010, may qualify for EUC benefits. The

maximum amount of EUC benefits an individual can receive is 53 weeks. The last

payable week of EUC benefits is the week ending July 31, 2010.

After exhausting EUC benefits, individuals may be eligible to receive a

maximum of 20 weeks of state extended benefits. Overall, Pennsylvanians now

may be eligible for total of 99 weeks of unemployment benefits. Additional

information is available online at http://www.uc.pa.gov.

The federal legislation also extended the eligibility period for the COBRA

premium reduction through Feb. 28, 2010, and expanded from nine to 15 months

the maximum period for receiving the subsidy.

Individuals who had reached the end of the reduced premium period before

the legislation extended it to 15 months will have additional time to pay the

reduced premiums. To continue coverage, 35 percent of premium costs must be

paid within 60 days after date of enactment or, if later, 30 days after notice

of the extension is provided by their plan administrator.

Individuals should contact their plan or health insurance provider for

information regarding the COBRA extension under their health plan. For

additional assistance, contact a federal Employee Benefits Security

Administration Benefits Advisor, toll-free, at 1-866-444-3272.

Media contacts:

David Smith, L&I; 717-787-7530

Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: This version corrects the 7th paragraph explaining the

extension of COBRA. The law expanded from nine to 15 months (not 25) the

maximum period for receiving the subsidy.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

-0-