25,000 Nevadans notified that their unemployment benefits could end

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 | 5:30 p.m.

The state has notified an estimated 25,000 Nevadans their jobless checks will stop at the end of this week unless Congress and President Barack Obama act by Tuesday.

The federal law expires on Jan. 2 that expanded unemployment benefits during the recession. The jobless are now able to collect checks for up to 73 weeks, down from 99 weeks that the federal government had approved temporarily for states with record high unemployment. Of that current total, 26 weeks are part of the state program, which will continue.

Renee Olson, administrator of the state Employment Security Division, said Thursday that claimants should continue to file their weekly claims so that benefits can be paid as quickly as possible if Congress votes to extend the federal program.

"This is the last payable week for emergency unemployment compensation, which means recipients will no longer receive benefits even if they still have funds available, however, we need them to continue to file so that there is minimal delay if Congress does act to continue the program," Olson said.