1500 Kansas Households Will Lose Unemployment Benefits

Fri, December 16, 2011

Kansas Public Radio / Stephen Koranda

Around 1,500 Kansas households will lose federal unemployment benefits next month. The Kansas Department of Labor said Friday the state will no longer qualify for the program.

It offers 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for people who have exhausted all other state and federal unemployment programs.

Kathie Sparks is deputy secretary of the Kansas Department of Labor. She says the state’s average unemployment rate will drop below 6.5 percent, meaning the extended unemployment benefits will stop in Kansas on January 7.

“That program ends immediately that day,” says Sparks. “That is the last date any checks (will be) mailed out.”

Sparks recommends Kansans on the program look into food stamps and other benefits. She says the unemployed should also contact their local workforce center.