State Departments Working to Update Unemployment System

It’ll be another few weeks before unemployed Kentuckians who have exhausted their benefits can get new checks through the federal extension of unemployment benefits.The Emergency Unemployment Compensation law was signed November 6th, and extends Kentucky’s unemployment benefits by 20 weeks because the unemployment rate is higher than eight-point-five percent.Lanny Brannock with the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet says it takes some time to implement new standards in such a large program.“We have to program this latest extension into our system, which is a daunting task," says Brannock. "It will probably take us weeks, we’re hoping that within two weeks claimants can start applying for benefits again.”He says it could be four weeks before claimants start receiving checks.It’s estimated 10,000 Kentuckians have already exhausted their 79 weeks of unemployment benefits.