Up to 100,000 Wisconsin residents set to lose unemployment benefits in the coming months may see an extension under new federal legislation introduced Thursday.
The bill, authored by U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, aims to extend unemployment insurance through May 31, offer tax breaks and increase tax credits through an $85 billion package.
Wisconsin lawmakers sent a letter to Baucus last week requesting extensions after the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development began sending out letters to individuals who are within weeks of losing their unemployment benefits.
The letter, signed by 30 legislators, requested an extension of COBRA assistance, a federal program that provides temporary, subsidized insurance to employees who have recently left their job, as well as unemployment benefits through Dec. 31.
Wisconsin residents can currently receive benefits for up to 93 weeks. According to John Dipko, DWD communications director, 250,000 residents are currently unemployed. The unemployment rate is 8.7 percent, one percentage point lower than the national rate.
