For Immediate Release

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch announced today that he has signed an agreement with the federal government increasing unemployment benefits for New Hampshire citizens. The increase is part of the federal stimulus package signed into law by President Obama last week.

"This is the worst national recession since the Great Depression. New Hampshire families and businesses are being impacted and I believe strongly we should do what we can to assist families through these difficult economic times and increasing unemployment benefits is one way we can do exactly that," Gov. Lynch said. "This modest increase will better enable our hard-working men and women to provide for their families as they look for a new job."

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, unemployment benefits are increasing $25 a week through calendar year 2009. The increase, which is federally funded, begins this week and will appear in checks within the next couple of weeks.

The $25 increases applies to all benefit payments including first 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits and the 20-week federal extension.

For contact information and directions to New Hampshire Employment Security offices go to www.nh.gov/nhes, or call 1-800-852-3400.

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