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Kansas Department of Labor News Room

For media information contact:

Kathy Toelkes
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kansas Department of Labor
Phone: 785.296.0901
e-mail

Top Stories

Federal legislation provides additional unemployment benefits
Unemployed Kansans may be eligible to receive up to 14 weeks of additional unemployment benefits under legislation signed by President Barack Obama Nov. 6. This latest extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program brings the maximum total number of unemployment benefit weeks available to Kansans to 86. Learn more here.

States Come Together to Join the fight At a press conference in Niagara Falls, NY, Kansas Labor Secretary Jim Garner today stood with his counterparts from regions across the country to advocate for an extension of Unemployment Insurance.
September 4, 2009.

State of Labor Address
Impacts of the national recession have been felt in Kansas since late 2008, but the most dramatic changes to the state’s labor market have occurred since the start of the second quarter of 2009, said Kansas Labor Secretary Jim Garner during his annual State of Labor Address
September 4, 2009.

State Extended Benefits now available to unemployed
Unemployed Kansans now have the potential to receive up to 13 weeks of additional unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through the state extended benefits program. Individuals may become eligible for the state extended benefits after exhausting federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC). Potentially eligible individuals were mailed applications this week.
Learn more in our Frequently Asked Questions.

Kansas Department of Labor moves to ensure continued benefit payments to state’s unemployed
The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) is taking steps to ensure unemployed Kansans continue to receive unemployment benefits as they search for work. Recent projections indicate the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund could exhaust its balance as early as November 2009. Labor Secretary Jim Garner has taken steps to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury to shore up the Trust Fund.

Kansas to automatically enroll Unemployment Insurance applicants for job-search services
The State of Kansas has launched a new registration process that automatically registers Unemployment Insurance (UI) applicants for job-search services available at KANSASWORKS.com, the State's official labor exchange job posting site. Read the full news release here, and for more information about the program see the frequently asked questions.

Additional Emergency Unemployment Compensation available
Kansas has become eligible to provide a second tier of federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits to qualifying individuals effective June 7, 2009. Individuals who have exhausted their original EUC benefits may be eligible for up to 13 weeks of additional benefits. KDOL identified nearly 10,000 potentially eligible individuals and applications for the new EUC benefits were mailed on June 5. Individuals who are still receiving original EUC benefits will also be notified of their potential eligibility for Tier II benefits as their original EUC benefits exhaust. Learn more about Tier II EUC benefits here.

September 2009 Labor Report
Kansas continues to experience overall weakness in the labor market, as evidenced by continued declines in nearly all industries over the year.

How to speed up your unemployment claim
You’re out of work and all you ask is that your unemployment benefits begin quickly. There are a few things that you can do to help speed up the process and make sure your claim goes smoothly through the system.

Workforce centers add dedicated computers to help Kansans file for unemployment online
Kansans can now file for unemployment benefits online—and get free assistance—at any of four state workforce centers in Topeka, Wichita, Overland Park and Kansas City.

Listen to how KDOL is working smarter to make things easier for unemployment benefits claimants through debit cards.

Publications
KDOL publishes numerous reports on topics ranging from workplace safety to Kansas employment and the agency’s and division annual reports.

News Release Archive
Not finding the news release you’re looking for? View past releases in our archive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


For media information contact:

Kathy Toelkes
Director of Marketing & Communications
Kansas Department of Labor
Phone: 785.296.0901
e-mail


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webmaster@dol.ks.gov

Page last updated November 9, 2009