Unemployment benefits extension proposed

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• Thousands of Whatcom residents could lose extended unemployment benefits this month

  Thousands of Whatcom residents could lose extended unemployment benefits this month

  Thousands of Whatcom County residents will soon be without unemployment benefits as two federal programs are phased out in Washington.

  Long-term unemployed workers are being notified this week that their unemployment benefits will be phased out in the coming weeks. As of Saturday, Dec. 24, no one will be admitted to the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. After Saturday, Dec. 31, existing recipients will not be able to advance beyond their current tier of benefits, according to a news release from the Washington State Employment Security Department.

  A second program, called Extended Benefits, is expected to end in mid-January.

• Unemployment benefits drop in Washington

  Unemployment benefits drop in Washington

  After two record-setting years, the number of Washington workers receiving unemployment benefits - and the amount they received - shrank in 2011.

  An estimated 440,000 people received benefits in 2011, a 12 percent drop from the all-time record of 503,000 in 2010. In 2009, 470,231 individuals collected jobless benefits.

  Benefit payouts will total about $3.2 billion this year, compared to $4.6 billion in 2010 and $4 billion in 2009, according to a news release from the Washington State Employment Security Department. More than 54 percent of the 2011 payouts were covered by federal funds, with 46 percent coming from the state's benefits fund.

• Idaho Labor Department opposes extension of jobless benefits

  Idaho Labor Department opposes extension of jobless benefits

  It’s time to stop the checks Roger Madsen, Idaho Department of Labor director, opposes extending federal unemployment payments, which already are expiring for some workers.

• Idaho’s bill for unemployment pay drops sharply

  Idaho’s bill for unemployment pay drops sharply

  Unemployment insurance benefit payments plunged 33 percent from 2010 to 2011 as the Idaho economy finally leveled off.

• Idaho Labor Department opposes extension of jobless benefits

  Idaho Labor Department opposes extension of jobless benefits

  Roger Madsen, the Idaho Department of Labor director, urged state and federal lawmakers Tuesday to oppose continued federal extension of jobless benefits for the state’s unemployed workers.

  In a letter to Idaho’s congressional delegation, Madsen said:

  “I believe the very individuals this program helps both now and in the future are being harmed by endless extensions. Some have been out of the workforce so long their skills and knowledge are beginning to deteriorate and their chances of re-employment are beginning to dim. Ending extended benefits will encourage many to re-enter the workforce.”