On Tuesday the Employment Security Department made it official. Beginning April 21 the maximum duration of unemployment benefits will drop from 99 to 73 weeks. This is due to the continuing decrease in the state unemployment rate.

The Department estimates “that approximately 12,500 unemployed workers will lose benefits immediately when extended benefits end on April 21. In addition, more than 11,000 workers will exhaust their emergency benefits within eight weeks after April 21, and another 40,000 people on unemployment are at risk of running out during the final six months of the year if they can’t find work.”

In September the maximum duration is expected to drop again to 63 weeks.

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