Mayor Fenty Announces Agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to Pay Additional Unemployment Compensation Benefits

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today announced an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to pay additional unemployment compensation benefits under the provisions of the “Supplemental Appropriation Act, 2008, Title IV – Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Public Law 110-252.”  This act, signed by President George W. Bush on June 30, 2008, provides as many as 13 weeks of additional benefits to individuals whose claims against the District of Columbia expired on or after May 1, 2007, and have exhausted all of their benefits.  The first week for which additional benefits would be payable is the week ending July 12, 2008.  The weekly benefit amount for these additional benefits would be the same as the individual previously received under the regular unemployment compensation program.

The Department of Employment Services, which administers the District’s Unemployment Compensation Program, will begin mailing notices on July 21, 2008, to all individuals whose claims against the District expired on or after May 1, 2007, and have been paid all of their benefits.  A notice will provide eligible claimants with instructions on how to file for additional benefits if the individual is currently unemployed.