ADDITIONAL JOBLESS BENEFITS NOW AVAILABLE

Some long-term unemployed Missouri workers will be eligible to receive up to an additional 13 weeks of extended unemployment compensation in Missouri.

"The newest packet of benefits will be available to those workers who have exhausted their extended benefits the weekend ending Feb. 15," said Dan Freeman, employment service supervisor at the local Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Cape Girardeau.

The new benefits package gained an avalanche of support from members of both parties. The House approved the $2.7 billion expansion of jobless coverage by a one-sided 404-8 margin and the Senate passed the measure by a 94-2 vote.

Jobless people are entitled to 26 weeks of regular benefits plus an additional 13 or 20 weeks of coverage - depending on a state's unemployment rate - that became law last fall.

The extra 13 weeks would be on top of that coverage, for a total of 52 weeks in Missouri. Eventually, 2 million unemployed people are expected to sign up for the new coverage nationally. The new benefit program will expire July 4.

"The benefit amounts for the latest coverage will be based on original entitlements," said Freeman. "The Division of Employment Security at Jefferson City has already started notifying by mail all those who will be eligible for additional benefits."

Claimants are asked not to call a local employment office unless they are notified to do so.

"Everyone eligible will receive a letter," said Bruce Burger, employment insurance program supervisor at the Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Jefferson City. "All notices are in the mail."

Burger said Friday that about 33,000 notices had been mailed.

"This is less than expected," he said.

Alan Franklin, director of the Missouri Division of Employment Security, had said earlier as many as 38,000 could be potentially eligible for the newest package of benefits.

"The notices will inform claimants about the amount of their new extension," said Freeman. "Currently we can not answer that question at the Cape Girardeau office."

Jobless workers who filed and were eligible for 13 weeks of extended compensation last November exhausted their benefits Friday.

A total of 678 people were eligible to apply for the November extended benefits in the three counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry, which are served by the Cape Girardeau Job Service office.

"We don't know how many are eligible for the latest extension," said Freeman. "We know some of those who filed in November now have jobs."

"Most people will probably receive their letters this week," said Freeman.

Unemployment compensation in Missouri ranges up to $170 a week.

The total is much higher in Illinois, where more than 100,000 residents have exhausted unemployment benefits and are eligible for another 13 weeks of compensation.

The benefits in Illinois provide $206 a week for single jobless workers and $270 for a jobless worker with two or more dependents.