CHICAGO — The Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation insurance program will continue through December 2013, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said Jan. 2.

Congress, this week, extended the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program as part of the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations. As such, Illinois workers collecting EUC should continue to certify for benefits. Congress did not add new weeks to the federal unemployment insurance program. Therefore, individuals who exhausted EUC are not eligible for additional unemployment insurance benefits.

Extending the EUC program will support a gradually improving economy. Every $1 in unemployment insurance generates $1.63 in economic activity because the dollars are quickly spent at neighborhood businesses.