Some 60,000 Arizonans who have been unable to find work are in line for a bit of extra financial help. Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed legislation that alters state law to extend jobless benefits by 13 weeks once the unemployment rate hits 6.5 percent and stays there for three months.

Workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own appear to finally be in line for a boost in benefits.

 Valley residents out of work six months or longer don’t have to worry about losing their unemployment insurance benefits for another five weeks under a $10 billion measure passed by the U.S. Senate late Tuesday and signed into law by President Barack Obama.

More than 70,000 Arizonans who have lost their jobs will be getting an extra $25 a week. Gov. Jan Brewer has agreed to accept extra funds for unemployment benefits made available to the state as part of the federal stimulus package, Capitol Media Services has learned.

If you’ve recently become unemployed and believe you are entitled to Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, you may file your claim online at www.AZUI.com.

Saying it should be no different than applying for a job, state lawmakers are moving to allow the Department of Economic Security to require drug tests of those seeking unemployment insurance.

Thousands of Arizonans are on the verge of losing their jobless benefits because of a single word in state law.

Thousands of Arizonans are on the verge of losing their jobless benefits because of a single word in state law.

Thousands of Arizonans are on the verge of losing their jobless benefits because of a single word in state law.

State lawmakers voted to make it easier for full-time students to qualify for unemployment insurance.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday passed a $10 billion measure to maintain unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provide stopgap funding for highway programs after a holdout Republican dropped stalling tactics that had generated a Washington firestorm.

Saying people who have been laid off are in danger of being forced to live on the street, a public interest law firm asked a federal judge Friday to force the state to process claims for unemployment benefits faster.

WASHINGTON  -  New claims for jobless benefits surged last week and came in worse than expectations that were already gloomy — and economists say the figures would get even worse without an auto industry bailout.

About 950 unemployed Arizonans each week will exhaust their state unemployment insurance benefits after Dec. 21 and won't be eligible for extended federal benefits if Congress doesn't reauthorize an extension.

Hundreds of teachers at religious schools around the state could soon be at risk of being laid off with no prospect of collecting jobless benefits.

Saying it will help prevent fraud, state lawmakers voted Wednesday to impose new burdens on some people seeking unemployment insurance.

Arizonans who lose their jobs through no fault of their own will have to do more to look for work to qualify for unemployment benefits under the terms of a measure given preliminary Senate approval on Tuesday.

A House panel voted narrowly Thursday to require drug testing of those who want jobless benefits.

The Senate sponsor of legislation to boost jobless benefits is all but daring Gov. Janet Napolitano to veto the plan again.