COBRA, unemployment benefits extended for two more months

It shouldn't take long for unemployment and COBRA benefits to start flowing again, following President Obama's signature Thursday night on a two-month extension of unemployment benefits.

Benefits ran out for some unemployed workers April 5 after Republicans held up a vote on an extension just before legislators headed to the hinterlands for a two-week Easter recess.

The National Employment Law Project estimated that beginning April 5, about 214,000 unemployed people a week lost benefits prematurely because of Congress' failure to act.

That was all resolved -- at least temporarily -- Thursday. The House took the final vote on the extension Thursday evening and later that night the President signed it.