Unemployment extension helps thousands in Illinois

Their unemployment benefits will continue to receive them following a two-month extehousands of Illinois workers on the verge of exhausting tnsion passed by Congress.

President Barack Obama signed the bill into law Monday. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says eligibility will be determined automatically and it's unnecessary to contact the unemployment office.

The department says up to 10,000 workers each week would have reached the end of their benefits starting in early January.

Unemployment insurance is a federal-state program. Contributions by Illinois businesses are set by state law. Those contributions fund the first 26 weeks of unemployment insurance. Illinois also has obtained more than $1.8 billion in federal funds to pay benefits past the initial 26 weeks.