Unemployment claimants to get weekly $25 increase

BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Workforce Commission announced Monday that claimants filing for unemployment insurance will begin receiving a temporary $25 increase in their weekly benefits payments starting this week.

The Federal Additional Compensation, part of the economic stimulus package, applies to all unemployment insurance benefit payments made since Feb. 28.

Claimants filing for benefits this week will see the increase as part of their usual weekly deposit. 

Back payments for claims made last week will show up as a separate payment this week.

Claimants do not need to call the LWC or take any action to receive the increase, which will be automatically added to payments.

Those filing for regular and extended benefits are eligible for the additional payment, which will be in place until May 31, 2010.