Thousands of unemployed Hawaii residents will be able to file for federal unemployment benefits during the next two months after Congress and President Barack Obama extended the program until the end of February.

People whose current benefits were to expire after Dec. 31 had worried about being unable to apply for benefit extensions because the program was ending. But legislation extending federal benefits was signed by Obama over the weekend.
Currently Hawaiçi residents receive 26 weeks of benefits paid through the state program and up to 47 more weeks through extensions available from the federal program.