When Utah's average unemployment surpassed the 6 percent mark for three months in a row, there was a grain of good news buried among the bad for some of the state's jobless. On Monday, the Utah Department of Workforce Services confirmed that unemployed Utahns who had used all their benefits without finding a new job may qualify for a new 13-week extension.

That makes 59 weeks of benefits possible — unprecedented at least in the decade-plus that unemployment benefits have been overseen by Workforce Services, said Curt Stewart, a department spokesman.

Utah normally provides up to 26 weeks of benefits for unemployed workers who meet qualifications. The first extension — called Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or EUC — was granted in July 2008. EUC is triggered by reaching certain levels of unemployment in a state.

The expanded benefits go into effect Nov. 8, and eligible applicants could start receiving payment by Nov. 18. Some people have already exhausted all of their benefits and dropped off the department's rolls, but they will be notified and can reapply now that the extension is official, according to unemployment insurance director Bill Starks.

More than 15,000 unemployed Utahns had used up all their benefits, including emergency extensions, which are funded by the federal government. The federal program now authorizes the expanded benefits from now through Dec. 31, with a "phase-out" to May 31, 2010, according to a department news release.

To expedite handling of what is expected to be a large volume of claims, they are encouraging people to file online, starting Nov. 8.

More information is available at Jobs.utah.gov or by calling 801-526-4400 in Salt Lake and South Davis counties, 801-612-0877 in Weber and North Davis, 801-375-4067 in Utah County, or toll-free 1-888-848-0688 from anywhere.

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