A thirteen-week extension of unemployment benefits---passed by Congress in March to aid those affected by the September 11 attacks---will run out in the next two weeks for 100,300 New Yorkers. New York is unlikely to receive an additional automatic extension of a further thirteen-weeks, as it has not met the threshold level of unemployment recipients necessary to qualify. With the state?s share of last month?s federal $8 billion insurance fund payout already used up providing benefits, Albany politicians are scrambling to come up with a solution that takes care of New Yorkers without putting an overly excessive strain on the state?s already burdened budget.
See LESLIE EATON, The New York Times, June 9, 2002