U.S. Labor Department announces release of $20.9 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to New Hampshire

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $20,934,147 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of New Hampshire. New Hampshire qualified for the remaining two-thirds of its share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by making it easier for unemployed workers seeking part-time work and those unemployed for family reasons to be eligible for benefits.

"New Hampshire already had made several updates to its UI program that allowed access to much needed benefits for a wider group of workers," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The state now has updated its law to make it easier for workers who become unemployed for compelling family reasons to be eligible for benefits. These family-friendly provisions are the right ones to implement to help workers and are important to the state's overall economic recovery."

The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, to administer its unemployment insurance program or deliver employment services.

Federal and state officials had the following comments about this announcement:

"Making sure our unemployed workers have the resources and support they need to get back on their feet in this tough economy is critically important to our state's economic recovery," said Sen. Shaheen. "We need to boost economic development to create jobs and strengthen local economies while also helping workers and families that have already felt the devastating effects of this recession through job loss, and I'm happy New Hampshire will receive this funding to do just that."

"This funding will help thousands of New Hampshire families struggling in this difficult economy," said Rep. Paul Hodes, who represents New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. "Unemployed families need all the tools they can to get back on their feet and back to work. I will continue to work with President Obama and Secretary Solis to make sure New Hampshire has all the resources it needs to help families struggling in this economy."

"These funds will help New Hampshire workers in this difficult economy," said Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, who represents New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. "The passage of the Recovery Act continues to benefit New Hampshire."

"New Hampshire families and businesses continue to be impacted by the ongoing national recession," said Gov. John Lynch. "I believe strongly we should do what we can to assist families through these difficult economic times, and extending unemployment benefits to a wider group of our citizens who are struggling is one way we can do exactly that."

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. New Hampshire's approved application will be posted on 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.