Counseling Required For Some Unemployed

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 7:29 AM

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The long-term unemployed in Indiana now need to have counseling if they want to receive the federal extended jobless benefits.

Those receiving checks after 26 weeks have to report to an Indiana WorkOne center to have their job search reviewed in addition to having to report the three places they've applied to every week for a job. Notices will begin arriving in the mail in April.

“While the job search requirement is not new to Hoosiers, the in-person visit offers the opportunity to get one-on-one personal attention from our professional re-employment staff,” said Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “Our staff will be able to provide insight on how to improve job search techniques and introduce clients to all of the services WorkOne offers.”

Those who don't go to the counseling will risk losing their federal unemployment insurance benefits.

The new mandate is a federal requirement that was put in place to allow for the extra 26 weeks of pay to remain in place through the end of 2012.

More information on the new requirement can be found on the Indiana Department of Workforce Development website, http://www.in.gov/dwd.