After the Riots / NEWS IN BRIEF : UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS : Deadline for Applications Extended

The U.S. Department of Labor has extended by one month the deadline to apply for disaster unemployment insurance for residents affected by the riots. The application period was to end today but has been extended to July 6 because many people eligible for benefits have been unaware of the program, officials said.

As of May 30, 2,010 people had applied to the insurance program, which provides weekly payments of $40 to $230 for up to 26 weeks. The insurance is intended to provide relief for those who would normally be ineligible for regular unemployment insurance. That includes the self-employed, people who were about to begin work but were prevented from doing so as a result of the riots, those who had not worked long enough to establish a state unemployment claim and residents who have become head of a household because of a riot-related death.

Flyers explaining the program are available at the Disaster Application Centers set up after the riot. Claims may be filed at any office of the California Employment Development Department.