Benefits extended for laid-off airline workers in Nevada

Tuesday, June 17, 2003 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Hundreds of Nevada airline and air travel industry workers, who lost their jobs because of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq, will be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said this special benefit is in a measure that was recently signed by President Bush to target this group of jobless people.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation said it is estimated that hundreds of people fall into this category. They must have exhausted their 26 weeks of unemployment benefits before qualifying for the new program.

They have until December to apply to the state Division of Employment Security.

The division said not all individuals will qualify for the benefits. Eligibility is based on whether the laid-off worker's employer was an airline or directly served the air travel industry. Those who were not laid off from their job but either quit or were discharged are not eligible for the added paychecks, even if they received regular jobless benefits.

The maximum weekly payment for unemployment is $317 and the minimum is $25. The average payment last year was $232 a week.

Those who believe they are eligible should contact the department's telephone claim center in Las Vegas at 486-0350.