JOBLESS BENEFITS EXTENDED HERE

The Missouri Division of Employment Security office in Cape Girardeau has made special arrangements to expedite handling of a heavy workload expected as a result of federal emergency unemployment compensation legislation being passed Congress.

"We're extending our hours of operation," said Jackie Cecil, manager of the unemployment office at 1219 N. Kingshighway. "We'll be operating telephones and keeping the computers available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m."

Offices will be open for walk-in traffic only during regular hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. said Cecil.

With more than 44,000 Missouri workers eligible for the extended benefits, officials expect a rush of unemployed workers to apply for the benefits this week.

Legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Bush authorizes $5.3 billion to provide up to 20 additional weeks of unemployment checks to Americans who have used up their standard 26 weeks of benefits.

Unemployed residents are eligible for the extra jobless benefits if their regular unemployment compensation ran out on or after March 1 or will expire by June 13, said Cecil.

"But the extension is not automatic," Cecil said. "People have to apply for the extended benefits."

Cecil said that 678 people were eligible to apply for the new benefits in the three counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry, which are served by the Cape Girardeau Job Service office.

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

Alan Franklin, director of the Missouri Division of Employment Security, said more than 44,000 people from Missouri have exhausted their benefits and may be eligible for the extended benefits.

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.

The new emergency benefits will be discontinued after June 13.

Missouri and Illinois Job Service officials have mailed letters to the unemployed people who may be eligible, asking them to contact local unemployment offices.

"Most people will probably receive their letters this week," said Cecil. "But the bill has had a lot of publicity. People started contacting our office early Monday, and we're already in the process of taking applications.

"We'll be taking applications throughout the day," he said. "But during the extended hours we'll be taking extra benefit applications by telephone."

Cecil urged the people receiving letters form the state to follow the instructions in the letter.

"Two types of letters were sent," he explained. "Of the 678 eligible people, 182 were told to come into the office in person; the remainder of the people were told to call the office."

Cecil said telephone headsets were being provided to workers to help expedite the extended claims.

"We want to make the process of applying for the extended benefits as convenient as possible," said Cecil.

The Illinois unemployment agency hopes to conduct most of its application process through the mail.

"By using the mail, we hope to spare the unemployed workers the ordeal of standing in long lines," said Loleta Didrickson, director of the Illinois Employment Security Department. "We're hoping we provide the unemployed workers with a check prior to the Thanksgiving holiday."