[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 86581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28793]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice of a Change in Status of the Extended Benefit (EB) Program 
for Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, 
Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a change in benefit period eligibility 
under the EB program for Alaska, Connecticut, Kansas, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, and Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment 
and Training Administration, Office of Unemployment Insurance Room S-
4524, Attn: Thomas Stengle, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20210, telephone number (202) 693-2991 (this is not a toll-free number) 
or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following changes have occurred since 
the publication of the last notice regarding the States' EB status:
     Based on the data released by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics on November 20, 2020, the seasonally-adjusted total 
unemployment rate for Alaska, Connecticut, Ohio, Oregon and Washington 
fell below the 8.0% threshold necessary to remain ``on'' a high 
unemployment period in EB, and starting December 13, 2020, the maximum 
potential entitlement for claimants in these states in the EB program 
will decrease from 20 weeks to 13 weeks.
     Based on the data released by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics on November 20, 2020, the seasonally-adjusted TUR for Kansas 
and South Carolina fell below the 6.5% threshold necessary to remain 
``on'' in EB. The payable period in EB will end on December 12, 2020.
     It has been determined that Massachusetts' Unemployment 
Compensation law provides for the temporary adoption of the optional 
TUR trigger during periods of 100 percent Federal financing of EB, and 
Public Law 116-127 authorized 100 percent Federal funding through 
December 31, 2020. As such, based on data released by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics on June 19, 2020, the seasonally-adjusted total 
unemployment rate for Massachusetts rose above the 8.0 percent 
threshold to trigger ``on'' to a high unemployment period in EB. 
Therefore a payable period for Massachusetts under the high 
unemployment period is retroactive to July 5, 2020, and eligibility for 
claimants has been extended from up to 13 weeks of potential duration 
to up to 20 weeks of potential duration in the EB program.
     Based on the data submitted by New Hampshire for the week 
ending November 14, 2020, New Hampshire's 13-week insured unemployment 
rate (IUR) was 4.77 percent, falling below the 5.00 percent threshold 
necessary to remain ``on'' EB. Therefore, the EB period for New 
Hampshire ends on December 5, 2020. The state will remain in an ``off'' 
period for a minimum of 13 weeks.
    The trigger notice covering state eligibility for the EB program 
can be found at: http://ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/claims_arch.as.

Information for Claimants

    The duration of benefits payable in the EB program, and the terms 
and conditions on which they are payable, are governed by the Federal-
State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, as amended, and 
the operating instructions issued to the states by the U.S. Department 
of Labor. In the case of a state beginning an EB period, the State 
Workforce Agency will furnish a written notice of potential entitlement 
to each individual who has exhausted all rights to regular benefits and 
is potentially eligible for EB (20 CFR 615.13 (c) (1)).
    Persons who believe they may be entitled to EB, or who wish to 
inquire about their rights under the program, should contact their 
State Workforce Agency.

    Signed in Washington, DC.
John Pallasch,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training.
[FR Doc. 2020-28793 Filed 12-29-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FW-P