Unemployment Benefits to be Cut Starting March 31

Thousands of jobless workers in Georgia receiving federal Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) can expect a cut in those benefits effective from March 31, according to a Monday statement from the Georgia Department of Labor.

Sequestration is the reason for the cuts, according to the release. EUC is a federally funded benefit for long-term unemployed workers who have exhausted regular state unemployment insurance benefits.

Here in Gwinnett County, 33,289 people are unemployment. That's 7.6 percent of the labor market, according to state data.

-- Will sequestration affect you in Lilburn? If so, email Joy.Woodson@patch.com to tell yout story, or let us know in the comment section below. --

According to the release, the United States Department of Labor said the extended benefits needed to be reduced by 10.7 percent, effective beginning the week of March 31. There are reportedly 61,360 recipients of EUC in Georgia. The maximum weekly benefit currently is $330, and the average is $260. Regular state-funded unemployment insurance benefits will not be affected.

In addition, the federal government is reducing the labor department’s administrative funding grant, which is used to pay costs of administration of the state unemployment insurance program, by about $3 million. According to the release, thought the cuts will negatively impact operations, it is too soon to know to what extent.

The state labor agency will notify recipients who will be impacted. Complete information will be available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

See also:

• Sequester Shenanigans
• Gwinnett County School Board Discusses 'Sequester' Budget Cuts
• What Would Federal 'Sequester' Budget Cuts Mean for Georgia?