Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie announced today that Hawaii has qualified for $10.2 million in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), passed by Congress in February.  Hawaii qualified for the funds by allowing workers to use recent earnings to establish eligibility for benefits.  The Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations can use the funds to pay unemployment benefits or, if appropriated by the legislature, for administering its unemployment insurance program or delivering employment services.

“Hawaii’s UI program includes a key provision that better meets the needs of the 21st century workforce,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.  “Hawaii uses recent wages when determining eligibility for benefits, which enables unemployed workers to receive the assistance they need and deserve even if they are relatively new entrants to the workforce.”

“This funding is another part of the Obama Administration’s economic recovery efforts and will help more working people in Hawaii who have lost jobs because of the country’s economic recession,” said Abercrombie.

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