Being unemployed has just gotten a little easier.

Unemployment benefits vary, depending on where you live, and range from a modest $133 per week in Puerto Rico to $628 a week in Massachusetts. But the passage of the massive federal stimulus package has resulted in an additional boost of $25 per week, or an extra $100 a month, for the unemployed. Combined with other unemployment benefits the stimulus package provides, the enhanced benefits should make a substantial difference. For example:

• Those who are out of work are now eligible to receive 20 extra weeks of unemployment benefits in all states, and another 13 weeks if you happen to live in a state with a higher unemployment rate.
• Previously, all unemployment income would be taxed as income. In 2009, you get to keep the first $2,400 of your unemployment income all to yourself, tax-free.
• Thanks to COBRA, workers can extend their health insurance coverage while they’re unemployed.

COBRA isn’t cheap, though, and when you’ve already experienced a deep cut in income, paying $400 or more monthly for COBRA coverage makes it an expense many people wish they could do without.

Under the stimulus package, the government will cover 65% of COBRA premiums for the first nine months of unemployment, saving individuals hundreds of dollars and families even more. I’d say this is the most beneficial aspect of the stimulus package as far as the nation’s unemployed are concerned.

Weekly unemployment benefits by state for 2009:

Alabama – $235

Alaska – $320

Arizona – $240

Arkansas – $409

California – $450

Colorado – $455

Connecticut – $576

Delaware – $330

District of Columbia – $359

Florida – $275

Georgia – $320

Hawaii – $523

Idaho – $364

Illinois – $511

Indiana – $390

Iowa – $426

Kansas – $407

Kentucky – $415

Louisiana – $258

Maine – $496

Maryland – $380

Massachusetts – $628

Michigan – $362

Minnesota – $538

Mississippi – $210

Missouri – $320

Montana – $386

Nebraska – $298

Nevada – $362

New Hampshire – $427

New Jersey – $560

New Mexico – $455

New York – $405

North Carolina – $476

North Dakota – $385

Ohio – $493

Oklahoma – $392

Oregon – $463

Pennsylvania – $547

Puerto Rico – $133

Rhode Island – $641

South Carolina – $326

South Dakota – $285

Tennessee – $275

Texas – $378

Utah – $427

Vermont – $409

Virginia _$363

Virgin Islands – $454

Washington – $515

West Virginia – $408

Wisconsin – $355

Wyoming – $387