Washington Post (04/08/13) Lisa Rein

Unemployment benefits for almost two million out-of-work Americans are being reduced by 11% this fiscal year as a result of the ongoing sequester. A report from the Pew Charitable Trusts highlights the sequester’s effect on unemployment insurance. As of early March, 1.8 million workers—or 15% of the total number of unemployed Americans—received insurance benefits that are completely federally funded. The potential impact in each varies because the percentage of the work force receiving benefits ranges from a high of about 3.1% in Alaska to less than 0.1% in South Dakota, the report says.