What is the current maximum number of weeks a claimant could be eligible for under regular state unemployment?
One change that is created by Extended Benefits is that the current maximum number of weeks of regular unemployment assistance is 26 weeks during the duration of the federal Extended Benefit program. Massachusetts typically provides up to 30 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits – unlike most other states which offer only 26. However under Massachusetts law, during the period when there are federal Extended Benefits in effect, the maximum regular benefits in the state becomes 26 weeks and the additional weeks of compensation, up to a maximum of 13 weeks, are provided by the federal Extended Benefit program. This means that effective July 6, 2008, eligible individuals will be able to collect up to a maximum of 26 weeks of regular benefits and up to 13 weeks of extended benefits for a maximum total of 39 weeks in order to be consistent with the rest of the country.
