First checks for extended jobless benefits mailed

Tuesday, March 19, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The first checks for extended unemployment benefits were mailed Monday to a handful of Nevadans who exhausted their 26 weeks of jobless checks.

The individuals are eligible under a new federal economic stimulus law for up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment stipends.

The state Division of Employment Security also said it has sent 28,000 letters to people who are potentially eligible for the extended jobless checks. Many have returned to work, the agency said.

Division Administrator Birgit Baker said she expected only 13,000 to 15,000 to qualify for the extra weeks of unemployment benefits.

The federal government will pay for the extended benefits. Regular unemployment money comes from a state trust fund financed by premiums from business.

Baker also announced that her office will resume extended hours for taking claims over the telephone: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. She also said the staff would work Saturday and March 30 taking telephone claims.

New claims for jobless benefits continued to decline last week. The division reported it received 3,323 claims, down from 3,563 of the week before. And those receiving benefits dropped from 38,842 to 37,964, as of Friday.

The new claims were up 17 percent from a year ago in the same week. The number of those receiving benefits was up 55 percent from a year ago.

Baker noted that after Sept. 11 the number of those drawing continuous benefits rose as high as 85 percent over last year.