US Labor Department announces release of $43.6 million in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to Nebraska

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $43,625,769 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the state of Nebraska. Nebraska qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by adding new provisions to its UI law that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and people who are upgrading their skills.

"Nebraska has updated its unemployment insurance program to better meet the needs of today's workforce," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The UI modernization provisions recently adopted by Nebraska help unemployed workers who have entered the workforce recently, work part-time or need training to become re-employed to receive the benefits they deserve."

The Nebraska Department of Labor can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.

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. Nebraska's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration website at http://www.doleta.gov/recovery . Other approved applications can also be found on this site.