Vermont labor officials say hundreds of people could lose their unemployment benefits if Congress fails to avert the so-called fiscal cliff. The federal unemployment insurance program that has been providing additional weeks of benefits to the long-term unemployed is set to expire.

Vermont's unemployment rate is down one point over last year at this time, to 5.7%. But the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund that pays out benefits to unemployed Vermonters remains insolvent, with the state borrowing federal funds to keep paying benefits.

Vermont's Unemployment Insurance Fund continues to be insolvent, but the state will borrow less than originally projected to cover benefit payments this year.

VPR's Jane Linhdolm talks with Vermont's Labor Commissioner and an attorney with Vermont Legal Aid about the solvency of the state's Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Vermont's unemployment insurance trust fund became insolvent in January. Lawmakers and the governor announced a plan to fix the system, but not everyone supports it. And an interview with Jane Ambrose, retiring director of the UVM Lane Series.

Governor Jim Douglas and Democratic leaders have reached a compromise that will erase a growing deficit in the state's unemployment insurance fund. The agreement calls for businesses to pay more, while workers will see a freeze in benefits.

A Vermont Senate committee is proposing a tax on workers that would be used to help fill the state's depleted unemployment insurance fund.

As Vermont borrows $58 million to cover unemployment payments through March, we examine potential systemic changes that could lead the program back to solvency.

Workers - and their employers - will both take a hit under a proposal to fix a looming deficit in the state's unemployment insurance fund.

A committee examining ways to prop up Vermont's unemployment insurance fund meets this week in Montpelier, and it's looking for public input.