Governor Jennifer Granholm and her counterparts from 21 other states are asking Congress to approve another extension of unemployment benefits for states with high jobless rates.

Around 100,000 people in Michigan and 1.4 million nationwide will lose their benefits by the end of the year. Unemployed workers in Michigan are currently eligible for 79 weeks of benefits: 26 weeks of state benefits, 33 weeks of federally-funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and 20 weeks of federally-funded extended benefits. Those receiving unemployment benefits are also collecting $25 a week in federal additional compensation which is added to their unemployment benefit. The EUC and FAC programs are scheduled to expire in December 2009.

Several bills have been introduced in Congress that would grant an additional 13 weeks of EUC benefits to states with high unemployment rates.