Federal cuts about to hit unemployment funds
Federal budget cuts are poised to slice away at unemployment benefits for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians.
The average weekly unemployment compensation check in Pennsylvania is about $350. Starting in April, some are set to shrink.
The 10 percent federally mandated cut will affect 99,000 people, according to Sara Goulet with the state Department of Labor and Industry.
“In terms of benefits, the folks that will be affected are those who are receiving emergency unemployment compensation benefits — those are paid by the federal government. And that is claimants who have already received 26 weeks of benefits from the state of Pennsylvania,” Goulet said.
The cut will mean a reduction of between $7 and $61 for those who have been on unemployment for more than 26 weeks.
Goulet says the state is notifying those who will be affected.
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