Alabamians receiving Emergency Unemploy-ment Compensation (EUC) benefits can expect to see a 12.8 percent reduction in benefits for weeks beginning April 28 through Sept. 30, according to Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees.

He said the cuts are due to mandated federal budget cuts, known as sequestration.

In most cases, Alabamians receiving regular unemployment compensation benefits, or those who have been unemployed for 26 weeks or less, will not be impacted by the cuts. This is because the State of Alabama is responsible for paying claims for up to the first 26 weeks with unemployment insurance taxes collected from employers. The federal government pays claims for benefits in excess of 26 weeks.