Extended Benefits Program

News Release

Extended Benefit Program to end September 26

LITTLE ROCK - The Extended Benefit Program (EBP), which provides up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to individuals who exhaust their regular and Emergency Unemployment Compensation benefits, will end September 26.

The EBP went into effect in Arkansas the week ending April 18, as a result of Arkansas's insured unemployment rate reaching 5 percent. The rate dropped below 5 percent the week ending September 5, triggering the end of the EBP on September 26, in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor guidelines. No extended benefits will be paid for any week of unemployment after the EBP ends.

Normally, the EBP receives 50 percent of its funds from the state Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and 50 percent from the federal unemployment fund, but because of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, federal funds have covered 100 percent of the costs.

The Department of Workforce Services will notify all individuals who have active extended benefit claims.