An unemployed aid program could help millions. Why aren’t more states using it?

By Ylan Q. Mui
April 23 at 12:34 pm

One of the last drips of federal aid for unemployed workers will expire next summer -- and few people even know it exists.

Under federal legislation passed in 2012, the program provides funding for states that allow workers who have been forced into part-time positions to receive unemployment benefits. The payments are prorated for hours worked, and economists say the benefits encourage struggling companies to keep their employees rather than lay them off. Economists say the program could help millions of struggling, part-time workers.