As the nation’s economy entered recession, Congress passed a temporary extension of unemployment insurance benefits, called the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) Program.  In early June, Congress did not renew these temporary benefits, and they began to phase out.

However, Minnesota law permitted the transfer of applicants whose EUC benefits were phasing out to a Federal-State Extended Benefit (EB) program.  This meant most Minnesotans continued to receive benefits.

In July, Congress reauthorized the EUC retroactively, so eligible applicants will be transferred back to this program.

The vast majority of applicants will simply continue to request benefits as they have been.  For them, the reinstatement of EUC means that these temporary weeks of benefits will be available through November.  A small number of applicants may need to take additional steps.  These applicants will be notified by mail.  The UI program will begin mailing letters to affected applicants this week and anticipates completing the reinstatement of EUC by the end of this week.

This site will be updated with new information as soon as it becomes available.

FAQs: Reinstating Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC)

Question: Is there something I need to do?

Answer:  Most applicants will just continue to request benefits if they are still unemployed. Applicants who need to take special action will be notified by mail.

Question: Will the $25 additional weekly payment be continued?

Answer: The reinstatement of EUC did not include the $25 additional weekly payment. These payments will continue to be phased out as applicants move out of their current tier.

Question: I already exhausted all my Regular, EUC and EB. Does the reinstatement of EUC mean there are more benefits for me?

Answer: No. The reinstatement of EUC did not add weeks of eligibility. It simply continues a program that had begun to phase out in June 2010. The program will now begin to phase out at the end of November 2010.

Question: I heard on the news that there are now 99 weeks of benefits, or that there is a new tier of benefits available. Is this true?

Answer: No. The number of weeks of EUC was not increased. In Minnesota, the maximum number of weeks of benefits – including Regular Benefits, EUC and EB  -- is still 86 weeks.

The number of weeks of benefits available in a state depends on its unemployment rate. States with very high unemployment rates are able to offer up to 99 weeks of benefits (when you include Regular Benefits, EUC and EB).

For further questions, please see the Extension of Benefits FAQ.

If you have a question regarding the status of your account, please call customer service.

Current Minnesota Unemployment Benefit Extensions

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Additional Information: Minnesota Unemployment Benefit Extensions

Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)

Extended benefits for those who have exhausted a regular unemployment account

Federal-State Extended Benefits (EB)

For those who have exhausted both a regular unemployment account and federal EUC

Frequently Asked Questions

Links to Extension of Benefits FAQs

Information for Employers

The effect of extensions on employer accounts