(WIBW) - Federal legislation may help Kansans who are out of work.

President Barack Obama signed an extention of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program Nov. 6. It gives eligible unemployed Kansans up to 14 weeks of additional unemployment benefits. It brings the maximum number of unemployment benefit weeks available to Kansans to 86.

“This action was desperately needed as thousands of Kansans are expected to exhaust all available benefits by the end of the year,” said Labor Secretary Jim Garner. “The U.S. Department of Labor will soon provide the states with guidance on how to implement this new law. We will be working to implement this latest extended benefits program and get benefits to eligible Kansans as quickly as possible.”

The new legislation adds an additional week to existing EUC Tier II benefits, taking the maximum number of weeks available in that program from 13 to 14. It then adds up to 13 weeks of additional benefits through EUC Tier III. The legislation also adds a fourth tier to the EUC benefits, which provides up to six more weeks of benefits in states that have an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent or more. With a current unemployment rate of 6.9 percent, Kansas is not expected to qualify to offer the fourth tier of EUC benefits.

Information on implementation and eligibility requirements for the new extension has not yet been received from the U.S. Department of Labor. Once it becomes available, applications for the additional benefits will be mailed by KDOL to potentially eligible individuals.

The Labor Department says it is important to note that the deadline to submit an EUC application is Dec. 26, 2009. After that time, new applications for EUC will not be accepted, unless the U.S. Congress takes legislative action to extend the deadline.

Individuals who think they may be eligible for the extended benefits are encouraged to visit the KDOL Web site, www.dol.ks.gov, or the Unemployment Benefits Web site, www.GetKansasBenefits.com, for updates on the program including information on when applications are being mailed and when processing of claims will begin.

Additional info from the KS Dept. of Labor:

This is the fifth extended benefits program implemented in Kansas since July 2008. Extended benefits are made available during times of high unemployment once regular unemployment benefits have been exhausted. Regular Kansas unemployment benefits are available for up to 26 weeks. The extended benefits programs now available in the state are outlined below:

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier I

·Up to 20 weeks of additional benefits (original extension of up to 13 weeks in July 2008; 7 additional weeks added in November 2008)

·Available once state unemployment benefits have been exhausted

·Funded 100% by the federal government

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier II

·Up to 13 weeks of additional benefits

·Becomes available when the state’s average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.0% or more for three consecutive months

·Must exhaust regular UI benefits and EUC Tier I before becoming eligible

·Funded 100% by the federal government

State Extended Benefits (EB):

·Up to 13 weeks of additional benefits

·Becomes available when the state’s average seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.5% or more for three consecutive months

·Must exhaust regular UI benefits, EUC Tier I and EUC Tier II before becoming eligible

·Normally funded 50% by the state and 50% by the federal government; a provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides for 100% federal funding through 2009.

Emergency Unemployment Compensation Tier III:

·Up to 14 weeks of additional benefits (including the additional week added to Tier II benefits)

·Must exhaust regular UI benefits, EUC Tier I and EUC Tier II benefits before becoming eligible

·Funded 100% by the federal government