(AP) About 1.1 million unemployed Californians will be affected if Congress and President Barack Obama fail to break their political deadlock before the end of the year, state officials said Wednesday.
Some jobless residents will begin losing unemployment extensions as early as next month if Congress does not extend benefits, according to the California Employment Development Department.
For about 100,000 people who are in their final federal extension known as FED-ED, their benefits will immediately stop after the first week of January. And people who are at or near the end of their benefits will no longer be able to file for extensions.
California provides up to 26 weeks of benefits, but the federal government has allowed extensions up to 99 weeks.
The state, which administers unemployment insurance benefits, provides a maximum weekly benefit of $450 with an average unemployment check of $300.