Long-term unemployed workers in a growing list of states are being abruptly cut from federal unemployment insurance, a new analysis from the National Employment Law Project shows. Due to reductions Congress enacted earlier this year, more than 400,000 workers in 27 states will have lost between 13 to 20 weeks of federal unemployment insurance under the Extended Benefits program by Saturday, May 12th. The cuts come even though long-term unemployment remains near record highs.

The latest round of cuts that take effect in eight states this Saturday will affect more than 200,000 long-term unemployed workers and account for the biggest number of workers to be hit so far, as states like California, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas are all being phased out at the same time. In California, nearly 100,000 workers are being cut from the extended benefits this week.

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project will be offering informational workshops on some important changes in the ACCESS Plus program affecting program participants in Blair, Bedford, Cambria and Somerset counties. These workshops will be held on May 31, 2012 in Blair and Cambria counties.

As of July 1st, 2012, ACCESS Plus will no longer operate in Blair, Bedford, Cambria, and Somerset Counties. These counties will be moved into the HealthChoices Southwest Zone.

In order to educate consumers, families, and advocates in these counties about the upcoming changes, Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is holding two training sessions on May 31, 2012 in Blair and Cambria Counties.

Karen Detamore, former Executive Director of Friends of Farmworkers, died unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. Karen's loss is mourned by the entire public interest law community of Pennsylvania and our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Electronic Medical Records Will Reduce Time for a Decision

The Social Security Administration and the Department of Defense (DoD) are working together to improve access to disability benefits for the nation’s Wounded Warriors, service members, veterans, and their dependents. A new nationwide project enables Social Security disability case processing sites to receive military medical records from multiple DoD facilities with a single request to a centralized DoD site. As of today, this initiative is in its first phase of nationwide expansion.