MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The long-term unemployed in
Alabama will be among the first to feel automatic federal budget cuts
scheduled to take effect Friday.
A spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Labor
says federal officials have advised the department to prepare for a cut
of 9% to 10% in unemployment benefits for Alabamians who have exhausted
their 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits and are now getting the
extended 37 weeks of federal benefits.
Spokeswoman Tara Hutchinson said the unemployment
cuts are supposed to take effect Sunday and will affect 16,000 people.
The federal benefits are administered by the state Department of Labor.
The average benefit is $202 weekly and the max is $265.
The White House estimates Alabama will lose $472,000 for the remainder of the fiscal year.
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