ST. PAUL  (AP) - The maximum length of extended unemployment benefits for jobless workers in Minnesota is going to decrease from 60 weeks to 46 weeks later this month.

The reduction is because the unemployment rate has gone down.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development spokesman Monte Hanson says that because the unemployment rate has averaged at below 6 percent for more than three months, those 14 weeks of unemployment benefits are going to disappear.

DEED sent letters to workers who could be affected by the change.

At the height of the recession, unemployed Minnesotans could get up to 86 weeks of benefits.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

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