US unemployment claims fall to lowest level since pandemic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level since the pandemic began, a sign the job market is still improving even as hiring has slowed in the past two months. Unemployment claims dropped 36,000 to 293,000 last...

Dismissal upheld in SC lawsuit over unemployment benefits

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a lawsuit against Gov. Henry McMaster over his early exit from federal unemployment programs providing extra money to residents during the pandemic. The unanimous opinion upheld State Circuit...

US average mortgage rates decline; 30-year at 2.99%

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term mortgage rates declined this week, with the benchmark 30-year loan slipping back below 3%. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate for a 30-year mortgage eased to 2.99% from 3.01% last week. The rate stood...

Some Floridians struggling with unemployment "overpayments"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state’s Department of Economic Opportunity is trying to claw back possibly billions of dollars in non-fraudulent unemployment claims distributed during the first 18 months of the pandemic. Thousands of Floridians have received stern letters warning them that...

US jobless claims fall to 326,000, first drop in four weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, another sign that the U.S. job market and economy continue their steady recovery from last year's coronavirus recession. Unemployment claims fell by 38,000 to 326,000, the first...

U.S. jobless claims drop by 38,000, to 326,000

New California laws aim to combat fraud in jobless benefits

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed new laws Tuesday to tighten security in the state's unemployment system after his administration OK’d billions of dollars in fraudulent payments during the pandemic while legitimate claimants languished in a backlog awaiting...

Changes coming for Arizona's unemployment insurance program

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Thousands of Arizonans have fallen victim to identity theft during the pandemic, resulting in delayed or denied payments and financial devastation. One expert says that a simple modernization and security upgrade to Arizona’s decades-old...

Expanded eligibility to unemployment benefits to expire

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Pandemic-related provisions that expanded eligibility to unemployment benefits for people directly impacted by COVID-19 are set to expire on Friday, the Vermont Department of Labor said. The expanded eligibility was for situations including...

US unemployment claims rise third straight week to 362,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose for the third straight week, a sign that the highly contagious delta variant may be slowing a recovery in the job market. Claims rose unexpectedly by 11,000 last week to 362,000, the Labor...