Feds trimming benefits as Utah jobless rate drops

Federal officials say Utah's job market is doing too well to be part of an emergency unemployment benefits program.

State officials have announced that the Department of Labor is knocking Utah out of the program's Tier III level effective April 8 because unemployment has been below 6 percent for three consecutive months.

Some people were eligible for up to 47 weeks of federal jobless benefits, but that number will drop down to 34.

Utahns have until the week ending April 7 to exhaust their Tier II benefits and still be eligible for the Tier III extension.

The emergency program took effect in July 2008 and helped workers who had exhausted 26 weeks of regular state unemployment benefits. Workers could claim a total of 73 weeks of benefits if they used both state and federal programs.

The Associated Press