Michigan has temporarily expanded the operating hours of its unemployment benefits telephone system as the state deals with a wave of new jobless claims.
Most phone lines at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency will be open until 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Saturday hours also will be expanded for some phone services related to jobless benefits.
Michigan's jobless claims telephone system has been overwhelmed as the unemployment rate has soared to 10.6 percent, its highest level since late 1984.
The state has beefed up its unemployment benefits operations with a new call center and hundreds of additional workers to handle calls.