- July 20, 2009
Vice President Biden, Senators Carper and Kaufman Announce Recovery Act Unemployment Insurance Modernization Funds for Delaware
WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden and Senators Carper and Kaufman announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified for release $21,868,398 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Delaware. In order to receive these funds, states must include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. Delaware qualified for these funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by: 1) using laid-off workers’ more recent wages to calculate their benefits; and 2) making easier for those seeking part-time work and those unemployed for family-related reasons to be eligible for benefits.
“A big part of the Recovery Act is providing relief to families – be it a tax cut or additional unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs,” said Vice President Biden. “There are thousands of folks looking for work after being laid-off, losing their job due to no fault of their own. We hope that these funds will help the many Delaware families struggling to pay bills and put food on the table during this difficult time.”
“Delaware updated its UI program to include several provisions that reflect the changes to the U.S. economy,” said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “Especially in times like this, it is essential that the safety net is expanded to ensure American’s unemployed receive the benefits they deserve.”
The Delaware Department of Labor can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.
“At a time when unemployment in Delaware has jumped from 4.6 to 8.4 percent in just one year and our country faces the risk of a deepening recession, unemployment insurance is vital to help struggling families through this difficult time,” said Senator Carper. “These new federal dollars will help families in Delaware stay in their homes and put food on the table while they find work again.”
“We are doing all we can to help keep and create jobs; it’s my highest priority and the Recovery Act is central to that effort. These funds will help victims of this economy to stay afloat while they find a new job. Delaware had already taken the steps to modernize its Unemployment Insurance program, and I’m glad that the federal government is able to support these changes,” said Senator Ted Kaufman.
The Recovery Act made a total of $7 billion available in UI modernization incentive payments to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs. Each state can qualify for a share of those funds by showing that its law includes those provisions. Delaware’s approved application will be posted at the Department’s Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery. Other approved applications can also be found on this site.