By Kate Bramson
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Federal money for unemployed Rhode Islanders is dwindling.
Effective Sunday, the maximum number of weeks of federal benefits available to unemployed state residents will drop to 47 from the current 53 weeks, according to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
The federal program offers benefits to eligible claimants who have exhausted their state unemployment insurance benefits. But Congress is phasing out the program, and all such federal benefits are set to expire on Dec. 29.
The state unemployment insurance program, which offers people up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, is not affected by changes to the federal program.