Out-of-work Utah workers may be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.

Authorized Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor because the state's unemployment rate has been above 6 percent for three consecutive months, the extension becomes available in the benefit week beginning Nov. 8.

Eligible claimants can expect to receive their payments by Nov. 18.

Bill Starks, unemployment insurance director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the program, said the agency is identifying unemployed Utahns who may be eligible and intends to notify them by Nov. 9.

After receiving a letter, potential recipients may file a claim on the department's Web site, http://jobs.utah.gov, or by calling one of four state offices:

» Salt Lake and south Davis counties: 801-526-4400;

» Weber and north Davis counties: 801-612-0877;

» Utah County: 801-375-4067;

» Elsewhere in Utah: 888-848-0688

This 13-week continuance follows an original extension in July of 2008 that provided 20 weeks of benefits to unemployed workers who had exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits. Starks said more than 15,000 unemployed Utahns have used up their original emergency benefits.

Out-of-work Utah workers may be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of emergency unemployment compensation.

Authorized Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor because the state's unemployment rate has been above 6 percent for three consecutive months, the extension becomes available in the benefit week beginning Nov. 8.

Eligible claimants can expect to receive their payments by Nov. 18.

Bill Starks, unemployment insurance director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, which administers the program, said the agency is identifying unemployed Utahns who may be eligible and intends to notify them by Nov. 9.

After receiving a letter, potential recipients may file a claim on the department's Web site, http://jobs.utah.gov, or by calling one of four state offices:

» Salt Lake and south Davis counties: 801-526-4400;

» Weber and north Davis counties: 801-612-0877;

» Utah County: 801-375-4067;

» Elsewhere in Utah: 888-848-0688

This 13-week continuance follows an original extension in July of 2008 that provided 20 weeks of benefits to unemployed workers who had exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits. Starks said more than 15,000 unemployed Utahns have used up their original emergency benefits.